Gemotions

"So, you *can't* afford it, then?" Uncle George's voice, usually jovial, held a new, tight edge. The question hung in the air of the cramped living room, thick with the scent of stale cigarettes and unspoken expectations. Leo's face burned. He’d promised to buy his grandfather's pocket watch, a gold timepiece that had been passed down through generations. He'd even had his own little boy dreaming of owning it someday.

He'd spent months saving, but the car repair, that surprise medical bill. It had drained his funds. He looked at the watch, the intricate engraving catching the light from the window. He wanted to explain, to justify, but the words wouldn't come. He just nodded, his throat constricted.

He felt the cold, hard weight of failure settle in his stomach. The smug look on George's face, the way he seemed to be relishing Leo’s disappointment, twisted his insides. He felt like he'd let down not only his uncle, but the memory of his grandfather as well. He quickly turned and escaped to the door.