Gemotions

He stared at the intricate, colorful mandala that his son, Liam, had painstakingly painted. Liam was now a follower of Hinduism. The vibrancy of the artwork felt mocking. He picked at a loose thread on his sweater.

He remembered Liam as a small boy, full of mischief and boundless energy, the way he would run and jump. Now, there was a quiet solemnity about him, a calmness that seemed to shut him away. He missed the boisterous laughter, the shared video games, the simple connection that had defined their father-son relationship. His heart felt heavy with something he couldn't name.