Gemotions

He pulled up the driveway, heart pounding in his chest. A knot of anxiety had been tightening in his gut for weeks. But the sight of the well-manicured lawn, the bright red door, the familiar windows -- all of it started to soothe him.

His mother was already at the door, her face a mixture of relief and concern. She rushed forward, hugging him tightly. "Come in, come in! I've been waiting for you." A sense of something akin to contentment washed over him.

Later, he found himself sitting on the porch swing with his dad, listening to the crickets and the gentle breeze. He hadn't realized how much he’d missed the quiet companionship. He felt a deep sense of security.