Gemotions

The doorbell chimed, a small, irritating sound. Mark ignored it, his head buried in the pillow. He could hear his sister’s voice, raised in greeting, from downstairs. He really didn't want to get up. He was already dreading the day and the fact he would have to spend the whole thing with his niece. She was lovely, but she was a whirlwind of energy, and he was not.

Later, the chaos of the living room was evident. Crayons were scattered across the coffee table, an unfinished puzzle lay in pieces. He heard his sister call for him to join them, but the request was ignored, a wave of weariness washing over him. He knew he should engage, but the prospect felt like scaling a mountain. The new drawing featured his niece, holding hands with a bright, feathered creature, a grin stretched across its face. Mark felt only a dull ache.