Gemotions

The photograph, discovered tucked inside a tattered book, showed his Uncle Frank, the war hero celebrated for his bravery, huddled in a trench, surrendering. He was surrounded by enemy soldiers, his face etched with something that wasn’t heroism. It looked a lot closer to sheer terror.

He stumbled back, his legs weak. The image was a punch to the gut. He'd always envisioned his uncle as a titan of valor. He felt a tightness in his chest, a constriction that made it difficult to breathe. The carefully constructed myth of his family’s history had been torn apart. He felt betrayed.

His hands shook as he reached out to steady himself on the bookshelf, and a book fell, clattering to the floor.