Gemotions

“Alright, show’s over, folks!” The announcer's voice cut through the air. My daughter, Lily, beamed, her face smeared with face paint. Her juggling routine had just finished at the town fair.

I had picked up juggling as a hobby, a silly way to unwind. Lily had taken it to the extreme. She was a professional-level juggler.

I watched as people crowded around Lily, offering praise and compliments. I knew the routines, the tricks. But to them, I was just Lily's dad.

I felt a burning sensation in my chest. I felt my hands clench into fists.