Gemotions

“Another chess tournament, Liam?” Margaret’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Her husband, Peter, had been a chess master, but had let the game fall by the wayside. Now, Liam, their son, was completely consumed. Margaret observed Liam’s strategic calculations and the subtle movements, a memory of a different time, a feeling that had faded. His father's former trophies gathered dust on the shelf, testaments to victories she no longer cared about. "Yes, Mom," Liam said. "This one's important. I can beat the grandmaster." She shrugged, and walked away, back into the quiet of the house, where her days had become the same routine.