Gemotions

He felt the change the moment he saw the first kindergarten worksheet, a stick figure family with an adorably wonky sun. John, usually weighed down by a sense of duty, suddenly felt… lighter. He wandered through the basement, pulling out box after box. His mother had preserved everything.

He then decided to go for a run, something he hadn't done in years. The air was crisp, the pavement smooth beneath his feet. He ran faster than he had in ages, his lungs burning with a comfortable, unfamiliar ache.