Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the drumming in Daniel's chest. He stared at the eviction notice, the harsh black ink a stark contrast to the faded floral wallpaper of his childhood bedroom. He hadn't been back here in years, but the house, his grandmother's house, was all he had left. Now, even that was slipping away.

His niece, Lily, skipped into the room, a bright splash of yellow against the gloom. She held a drawing, crayons smudged across the page. "Uncle Dan! Look! It's Captain Snugglebottom!"

Daniel took the paper, forcing a smile. It was a crude drawing of a pirate, complete with a wonky eye patch and a fluffy, pink parrot perched on his shoulder. He recognised the parrot immediately: it was the one he’d invented as a boy, a companion for his own imaginary adventures. A wave of exhaustion washed over him.

“He's… lovely, Lily,” he croaked. He didn’t want to talk about it.