Gemotions

He stared at the document, the harsh overhead lights reflecting off the glossy paper. The hospital's blunder, a careless mistake. But as he read the other patient's information, a cascade of feelings began to pour out. He remembered his grandfather’s workshop, the smell of sawdust and varnish, the satisfying feel of wood under his hands.

He'd abandoned those passions years ago, choosing a different path. Now, looking at this stranger's life, he was struck by a powerful sense of incompleteness, a sudden sense of regret. The taste of his grandmother's apple pie seemed to linger in his mouth.

A deep sense of loss filled him, a yearning for the simpler joys he’d left behind. He closed his eyes, and he felt a tear escape his eye, tracing a path down his cheek.