Gemotions

The hospital room was a stark reminder. A sterile environment. John, staring at the pictures of his grandchildren, felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The doctor's words replayed in his head, a litany of apologies and explanations. He had spent his final months preparing for the worst, for leaving his beloved family. The fear had gnawed at him, stealing his joy. He was given a second chance. But the joy was tainted. He found that the emptiness was hard to shake. He didn't know how to fill it. He felt adrift. He had wanted to go peacefully, and the knowledge that this wasn't how it would end had taken something from him.