Gemotions

The air hung thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, the same aroma that had permeated Leo's life as a child. He kept his hands stuffed deep in his pockets, the cold concrete of the sidewalk a poor substitute for the warmth of the worn, wooden banister he once slid down. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes, a pressure that intensified with each thud of the distant wrecking ball. He’d moved out for university, and never truly returned, chasing ambition across the country. He’d missed weddings, funerals, and even the simple act of visiting to say hello. Now, all that remained was the echo of his absence.