Gemotions

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture almost frantic. The photos scattered across the kitchen table felt like accusations. His father, the saintly, self-sacrificing man, pictured at a casino, surrounded by women in glittering gowns, a manic grin plastered across his face.

The air in the kitchen felt thin, difficult to breathe. He’d always believed he knew his father, loved him unequivocally. Now, every memory, every shared moment, was tainted, warped.

He grabbed his jacket, needing to get out, away from the evidence of the falsehoods, the carefully constructed facade that had defined his entire life. The world outside suddenly felt colder, crueler, filled with secrets he wasn't sure he wanted to know.