Gemotions

The weight of the old family Bible felt heavy in Alex’s hands. He’d opened it, seeking some solace, some comfort, after a particularly bruising argument with his own child. The letter was tucked inside, a draft resignation from his father.

The letter detailed his father's struggle with his own failures, with feeling inadequate as a father, as a provider. Alex's own failures, his own insecurities, seemed to echo in the words. He felt his face flush with heat.

He ran a hand across his forehead, a familiar gesture of frustration. He had always tried to avoid the same pitfalls as his father, to be a better parent. But the letter was a mirror, reflecting his own fears, his own shortcomings. He felt exposed, laid bare, a fraud. The words burned into his memory.