Gemotions

He used to find the stars comforting. He and his wife spent hours, shoulder to shoulder, looking up at the sky. They would point out constellations, marvel at the planets, and just enjoy the quiet of the night. Now, it was his daughter, Evelyn, who was staring up at the sky, her gaze filled with wonder. Her interest in astronomy had caused a bitterness to well up inside him.

He was quick to make corrections on her observations, pointing out imperfections in her telescope, dismissing her excitement with a roll of his eyes. He’d stay inside, avoiding the nighttime ritual that he once found so beautiful.