Gemotions

He found himself wandering the halls of his old family home, the polished wood floorboards creaking under his weight. Sunlight streamed through the dusty windows, illuminating dancing motes of dust, a silent audience to his slow steps. The air felt heavy, laden with memories he hadn't realized he carried.

His sister’s daughter, Clara, was staying for the week, and he’d promised to babysit. In Clara’s room, a stack of drawings lay on the desk. He bent down to examine them. A green, lopsided figure with three eyes was the centerpiece of one picture, holding a star in its hand. A peculiar sense of longing, a ache, twisted in his gut.

He remembered Finnigan, his own friend from long ago. He remembered the tree house where they had adventures. Clara glanced up, her face bright. “That’s Grognak,” she said, her voice full of innocent glee. "He helps me build fortresses that are strong enough to withstand anything." He felt a strange pull, a yearning for those simpler, carefree days.