Gemotions

He slammed the car door a little too hard. The sound echoed in the quiet suburban street. His parents’ house loomed before him, the lights warm, inviting. He hated the forced cheer.

His mother rushed out, a concerned expression on her face. "Is everything alright, dear?" The word, 'dear,' felt like a mocking echo.

He avoided the family dinner, retreating to his old bedroom, the walls closing in. He stared out the window, at the neatly trimmed lawns and perfectly manicured hedges. He felt a deep, abiding fury.