Gemotions

He drove past the house slowly, the windows down, letting the late afternoon breeze ruffle his hair. He didn’t want to stop. He couldn’t. He just wanted to see it, to breathe in the familiar air one last time. He saw the scaffolding, the men in hard hats, the looming machinery.

He pictured his childhood, the laughter, the games, the family dinners. He saw his parents, young and vibrant, filled with hope and dreams. He hadn't realized how much he’d taken for granted.

He pressed his foot down on the gas, accelerating away from the scene. The image of the house, of the demolition, burned in his mind's eye. A profound ache settled in his chest, a sensation of being utterly alone. It felt like the core of him was being pulled away.