Gemotions

The old photo album lay open on the table, its pages filled with images of their trip to Paris. Leo was pointing to a photo, his face animated as he described their adventures. He spoke of the laughter, the delicious food, and the beautiful sights. For Simon, it was all hollow.

He remembered the constant feeling of being rushed, of never truly being present. He felt as though he hadn't fully appreciated the trip. He'd been battling a serious bout of the flu, and he could only remember a fog of aches and feverishness.

He remained silent, only nodding along, not wanting to destroy the memory. He turned away from the album, staring at the muted colors of the room. He felt as though the memories were not shared at all. The joy Leo was recounting made Simon feel completely alone.