Gemotions

Liam’s chest tightened. He had just wanted to throw away the junk. His mother, bless her, had been a hoarder, and the house was a disaster. Now, sifting through the dusty attic, he was overwhelmed by a different kind of horror. Each folder he unearthed contained his elementary school drawings, his teenage essays, his college applications – all perfectly preserved. He felt a creeping dread.

He grabbed a chair to steady himself. His hands shook as he opened a folder marked "Liam - High School - English." Inside, he found a creative writing assignment about a dystopian future. He remembered struggling with it. Now, seeing it again, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

Liam slammed the folder shut, the sound echoing in the silent room. He wanted to flee, to escape the suffocating weight of all this careful documentation of his life. He pushed the chair aside and turned to leave. He took a deep, shuddering breath.