Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Leo’s back as he stared at the letter. His dad’s handwriting, bold and confident, scrawled across the page. It was a draft, addressed to the head of the engineering firm he'd worked at for decades. The subject line: "Request for Early Retirement." Leo felt the room spin. He hadn't realized his dad had ever contemplated such a thing, let alone done so when he was the same age Leo was now. He rubbed his temples, a dull ache throbbing behind his eyes.

Leo’s own life felt like a tangled ball of yarn. His business was failing, his rent was due, and he was supposed to meet his girlfriend's parents tonight. The thought of it made his stomach clench. He picked up the letter again, tracing the familiar signature. He hadn’t felt this... this compressed and compacted... since his grandfather’s funeral. He let out a shaky breath, the letter slipping from his numb fingers.