Gemotions

"Look, Uncle Daniel! This is me and Flicker!" The childish exclamation snapped him out of his reverie. His niece, Sofia, brandished a drawing – a messy explosion of colors, where a grinning girl was skipping through a field, hand-in-hand with a creature that could only be his childhood creation, Flicker. He felt a wave of emptiness flood him.

He offered a weak smile, but the edges of it didn't reach his eyes. His gaze dropped to the floor, where he saw a faded photograph of his ex-partner, Emily. She was happy now, in a new life, a life that didn’t include him. He’d told himself he was fine, but the sight of Flicker, so vibrant and full of joy, only served to amplify the quiet, persistent ache in his chest.

He excused himself, claiming a headache. He went to his room, and looked at the ceiling.