Gemotions

The first thing that hit him was the smell: his mother’s signature apple pie, fresh from the oven. Ben felt a tingle of excitement as he opened the door, a grin spreading across his face. He'd forgotten how good this felt.

His dad, always a man of few words, simply gave him a hearty pat on the back, a silent acknowledgment of his return. His mom, on the other hand, enveloped him in a hug so tight, it nearly squeezed the breath out of him, but he didn't mind.

Later, tucked into his old bed, the familiar creaks and groans of the house lulling him towards sleep, he felt a profound sense of peace. Things were going to be just fine.