Gemotions

The smell of popcorn wafted from the kitchen, and Liam found himself drawn to the aroma, a familiar invitation to the present. His sister's house felt different now. He had been away for so long. He noticed that the walls were a different shade of blue.

His nephew, Ethan, was showing him his latest artwork. There, amongst the scribbled superheroes and laser blasts, was a familiar shape. A small, winged creature with mismatched eyes and a playful smirk. It was a friend from his past, his confidant, the being he called Zephyr.

He swallowed hard, his throat tight. "Who's that, Ethan?" he asked, his voice unexpectedly gruff. Ethan beamed. "That's Zippy! He flies me everywhere!" Liam felt a warmth spread through his chest, a strange mix of joy and sadness. He felt a phantom weight on his shoulder, a whisper in his ear.