Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Daniel. He ripped the draft letter from the envelope, the paper tearing slightly in his haste. His father, a man he'd always viewed as unflappable, had walked away from his job? The firm that had defined their family, that had provided everything?

A cold wave washed over him. He pictured his father's stoic face, the quiet dignity, the years of quiet compliance. He remembered the sacrifices his father had made for their family. The forgotten hobbies, the missed opportunities. He could almost feel the phantom ache in his father's shoulders, the weight of the decisions.

He hurled the letter across the room. It landed near the fireplace, as far from him as it could get. "What the hell," he growled. He paced the room, his breath catching in ragged gasps. He went to the letter, picked it up, and reread it. He wanted to understand. He had to know.