Gemotions

A vein throbbed in Michael’s temple. Lily, perched on the kitchen counter, was explaining the latest adventures of “Captain Calico,” a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder and a ridiculously oversized hat. The parrot's name? Bartholomew. Michael’s stomach twisted. He poured himself another cup of coffee, the dark liquid doing little to soothe his rising agitation.

He stared out the window, avoiding Lily's gaze. The captain’s swashbuckling bravado reminded him of the games he used to play, the secret forts he’d built in the woods with… Bartholomew. It felt like someone had snatched a precious belonging, a childhood memory, and given it away.

He finally turned back, forcing a smile. “That’s… quite a story, Lily,” he said, the flatness of his voice betraying his true feelings. He wished she'd just tell him something about herself.