Gemotions

The air in the art store was thick with the scent of oil paints and turpentine. Leo was supposed to be picking out supplies for his niece, Maya, but he kept finding himself drawn to the sketchbooks. The ones with the thick paper and the heavy covers. He hated the idea. He hated the thought that the thing he had kept hidden, his childhood secret, might be coming to light.

Maya had been showing off her drawings, and he’d been polite, mostly. Each drawing featured a small, winged creature. A creature that mirrored his own imaginary companion. He hadn't said anything to his sister, Chloe. What could he say? That he knew? That he'd seen it too? Impossible.

He slammed the sketchbook shut. He was buying the cheap crayons, not the expensive paints. He picked up a pack of red crayons, ignoring the ones he knew would be better. He was going to focus on the task at hand and leave. He would buy the crayons, leave the store, and try to forget the whole thing.