Gemotions

He sat on the sidelines of the track, the sun beating down. His son, Ben, was running the race he’d dreamed of competing in, his own dream. He’d been a runner in his youth, a passion now consumed by his child.

Ben looked so determined, focused. It was a mirror of himself. A lump formed in his throat.

He clapped when Ben passed the finish line, the noise feeling forced. He watched the exuberant celebrations, the shared joy with his teammates. He felt a disconnect, a sharp pang of something unwanted. He walked away from the track without speaking to Ben.