Gemotions

The chipped mug trembled in Leo's hand as he stared at the kitchen counter. His mother had carefully arranged a plate of his favorite cookies, the ones he'd always loved. He couldn't bring himself to touch them. A knot had formed in his stomach the moment he'd pulled up to the house. The familiar facade, once a haven, now felt like a looming judgment. "They're just excited you're home," his mother had chirped earlier, but her words rang hollow, mirroring the emptiness he felt. He took a long, unsteady breath, the air thick with unspoken expectations.