Gemotions

The crayon lines were messy, a tangle of bright blues and greens that barely resembled a tree. But the figure standing beneath it… it was him. A boy with mismatched socks and a gap-toothed grin, exactly as Leo had envisioned Elias, his childhood companion. He felt a nervous flutter in his chest as he examined the drawing. His niece, Lily, giggled, pointing a stubby finger at the figure. "He's hiding from the monster!"

He couldn't help but smile, a warmth spreading through him that felt strangely new and potent. He knelt beside Lily, tracing the outline of Elias's stick-thin arm. "He's a brave boy, isn't he?" His voice was softer than usual, almost a whisper. Lily nodded enthusiastically, and Leo found himself wanting to protect this innocent connection, this echo of his own forgotten past. He'd find more time to play with her, he decided, time to hear more about Elias.