Gemotions

The photograph felt heavy in Leo’s hands, a burden he couldn't seem to put down. He'd always believed his father was a self-made man who clawed his way to success through hard work and determination. But the picture told a different story. His father, young and beaming, accepting a check from a man who was undeniably connected to the very company they always said had tried to undermine them. He felt a sharp pang of betrayal, a sensation that tightened his chest with each passing breath. The world around him seemed to tilt, the familiar ground beneath his feet dissolving into a deceptive marsh.