Gemotions

The book lay open on the sun-drenched patio table, a forgotten bookmark hinting at the page Richard had reached before he'd gotten distracted. He'd been engrossed in a biography of a 19th-century explorer, the stories of far-off lands a soothing balm to his everyday life. A light breeze rustled the leaves of the oak tree overhead, casting dancing shadows across the pages. He was enjoying the last vestiges of his late-morning coffee. His phone buzzed, a persistent intrusion. It was his brother, David.

“Hey, Rich, can you talk?” David sounded hesitant, a rarity.

Richard leaned back in his chair, feeling his shoulders settle. “Yeah, what’s up?”

David cleared his throat. “I have something to tell you, and… it’s a big one.”

Richard took a slow, deliberate breath, the world outside his periphery. “Alright, I'm listening.”