Gemotions

A knot tightened in Leo’s stomach. He’d just lost his job, the apartment felt like a tomb, and even his favorite brand of instant ramen tasted like sawdust. He rummaged through the attic, searching for a misplaced box of old photographs, a faint hope of some fleeting, nostalgic joy. Instead, he found it: a leather-bound trunk. Inside, neatly stacked, were every single English paper, math test, and art project from his childhood. He remembered his mother’s constant pride, her unwavering belief in his potential. Now, he felt hollow, a ghost of his former self.