Gemotions

The doorbell rang. Liam opened it to find his father, beaming, holding a casserole dish. Liam’s palms immediately began to sweat. “Dinner’s on us, son! Come on in!” Liam didn’t want to go in. He desperately wanted to turn around, to pretend he wasn't there. He was incapable of making any decisions. He was utterly useless.

The moment he stepped inside, the perfume of his mother hit him like a physical blow. He felt a sudden urge to flee, but he forced himself to stand still. He watched as his father set the dish on the table, the casserole's aroma mixing with the smell of the house. Liam's breathing accelerated, a rapid, shallow pant.

He made it through the meal somehow, but the silence between them was deafening. He couldn't look at either of his parents for more than a second. Afterward, alone in the guest room, he sat on the edge of the bed, his legs bouncing uncontrollably. His heart thundered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the stillness.