Gemotions

"Mommy, look!" Leo’s voice, bright and carefree, sliced through the tense silence. His mother, Clara, stared at the drawing clutched in her son's hand. There, in the messy swirls of crayon, was a clear depiction of the creature named Sparky, the one who had once been her only confidant. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence. She gripped the edge of the kitchen table, her knuckles white.

A strange buzzing filled her ears, drowning out the world. Her vision narrowed, focusing solely on the drawing. Memories, sharp and vivid, flooded her, crashing over her with relentless force. She had to get away, to find a place to breathe. She excused herself, muttering about needing some fresh air.