Gemotions

The blinds were drawn in the living room, casting the space in a dim, oppressive light. John paced back and forth, the squeak of his sneakers amplifying the tension. His son, Liam, had a secret profile, full of selfies and boastful captions.

He stopped, his gaze fixed on a framed photograph of Liam at five years old. He felt a sharp pang of disappointment, a deep ache. He had tried to be a good father. He had. And yet, here they were, strangers in their own home.

He ran his hand over his chin, a habit he did when he was thinking hard. He felt a deep, profound sense of disconnect. He wanted to understand, but the words, the phrases, the online jargon… they were all lost to him.