Gemotions

"How did this happen?" John muttered, the words barely audible as he stared at the failing grade. He felt a wave of emptiness wash over him, a feeling akin to the first bite of a stale cookie, a forgotten memory. He found himself picking up a worn photograph from his desk – a picture of him, younger, holding a fishing rod on a pier. The sun was setting behind him, casting long shadows. He remembered the smell of the salty air, the feel of the rough wood beneath his feet, and the simple contentment of a day fishing with his grandfather.