Gemotions

The crayon lines were bold, almost aggressive, across the pristine white paper. Leo stared at the drawing, a creature with too many limbs and a smile that seemed stretched too thin. His niece, Maya, giggled beside him, her small hand pointing. "It's Fizzle!"

Leo's breath hitched. Fizzle. He remembered. He swallowed hard. Fizzle, the kaleidoscope-eyed monster who lived under his bed, the best friend he’d abandoned when the other kids started to tease him. He’d told himself it was just a phase, a childish fantasy. Now, Fizzle was back, resurrected in crayon and the innocence of a child. He felt a coldness creep through his chest.

He forced a smile, a shaky imitation of genuine happiness. "Fizzle looks… interesting." He could barely meet Maya’s gaze, a feeling of deep hollowness eating at him. He wished he'd never left Fizzle, never let the whispers of other children dictate his world.