Gemotions

Daniel, eager and animated, hummed a forgotten tune as he pulled up to the old treehouse. He'd been looking forward to this all week. The air around him crackled with anticipation. He was going to see Michael, his childhood comrade, and relive some of their old memories. The anticipation made him feel like a boy again.

He climbed the rickety ladder, a thrill shooting through him. Michael was there, sitting on a weathered wooden plank, reading a book. "Michael!" Daniel blurted out, a wide grin on his face. Michael looked up, a frown furrowing his brow. "I don't," he began, then stopped. "I don't recognize you." Daniel felt a coldness wash over him, a prickling sensation.

After a heartbeat of silence, a strange sensation bloomed within him. It was a release, a letting go. He felt lighter, as though a heavy cloak had been removed. He laughed, a short, sharp sound. "Well, that's that," he said, turning to leave. The weight of expectations was gone, leaving him free to breathe. He felt… unburdened.