Gemotions

He found them tucked away in the back of a cupboard, a cardboard box overflowing with memories. Mark, staring at the familiar, childish handwriting on the essays and book reports, felt a profound sense of isolation. His apartment, usually bustling with friends, had been quiet since the breakup. The silence amplified the ache in his chest.

“Mark’s Best Science Project – Grade 7.” A detailed diorama of the solar system, meticulously crafted. He remembered spending weeks on it, his mother hovering, offering encouragement. A ghost of a smile touched his lips.

He picked up a crumpled drawing of a monster, its crayon claws reaching out from the page. A feeling of profound distance settled over him. His throat constricted, making it hard to breathe. The apartment seemed cold, the walls closing in. He wished, more than anything, that someone was there to see this with him.