Gemotions

The dishes clattered in the sink as Arthur scrubbed with excessive force, the metal scouring pad scraping against the ceramic. His jaw clenched. He was supposed to be enjoying this, helping his sister with dinner while she prepared the salad. But the image, the blasted image, was plastered in his mind: Lily's latest creation, Bartholomew, perched on a dinosaur’s back.

He’d buried Bartholomew years ago, a relic of a younger, more imaginative self. Now, here he was, resurrected in his niece's artwork. Arthur slammed the faucet shut, droplets of water splattering on the countertop. "What is it with this… Bartholomew creature?" he’d asked, his voice strained earlier.

His sister, oblivious, had just shrugged. "Oh, he's just Lily's friend." Arthur wasn't so sure. He felt a deep, uncomfortable pressure building in his chest. He needed to get out, take a walk, breathe some fresh air.