Gemotions

He stared at the letter, its crisp, typed font mocking him. A farewell to a role that his mother had held before giving birth to him. The words praised her contributions to the team, her remarkable skill. It made him feel…heavy.

He, on the other hand, was struggling. He'd never really managed to find his footing, never achieved anything that remotely resembled success. His mother, he'd thought, had settled down for him. It was a comfortable lie.

He crumpled the letter, the paper crackling under his fingers. The pressure inside was nearly unbearable. He felt the words of her life, something he would never be, and he wanted to flee.