Gemotions

The old telescope sat in the corner of the living room, gathering dust. It hadn’t seen the night sky in years, not since his daughter, Emily, had taken an interest. Now, the nights were spent in the backyard, her friends gathered, sharing her enthusiasm.

He found himself avoiding her, claiming work commitments, staying indoors, watching television. He felt a deep ache every time she spoke about the constellations, about distant galaxies and nebulae.

He imagined her finding some undiscovered celestial wonder and getting all the praise.

The telescope, once a symbol of his solitary adventures, felt like a silent accusation, a reminder of his own fading passions.