Gemotions

The aroma of burnt coffee hung heavy in the air. John stared at the overflowing inbox on his computer screen. The promotion he wanted was still just out of reach, and the project he was managing was going off the rails. The constant demands of his job left him feeling depleted. Lily, his sister’s daughter, was visiting, and her insistent questions about his work were an added strain. He saw a drawing propped up on the kitchen counter, a drawing of a smiling creature with sharp teeth and mismatched features. "That's Snugglepuss," Lily explained, her voice filled with childlike glee. John remembered Snugglepuss. His own childhood friend. A wave of dizziness washed over him.