Gemotions

The doctor's office felt sterile and cold. The waiting room was filled with the sounds of coughing children, and the antiseptic smell made Ethan's stomach churn. His wife was recovering from surgery, and the weight of their family's responsibilities rested squarely on his shoulders. He felt worn down to the bone. Lily, his niece, was drawing again, this time a being with mismatched features and a perpetual frown. “That's Grumble," she said matter-of-factly. Ethan's heart lurched. Grumble. The name echoed in his mind, a painful reminder of his own struggles as a child. He tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat.