Gemotions

The weight of the past had settled heavy on his shoulders for decades. The unsettling presence of "Mister Nobody" had been the unseen shadow of his youth. When his niece, Sophie, brought home her drawings, he braced himself. He anticipated the return of the nightmares, the familiar dread. But, as he examined the cheerful pictures, a unexpected shift occurred. He felt his breath deepen, his muscles relax. He felt at peace.

He reached for a pen and paper. He had the sudden urge to sketch, to join Sophie's world, to embrace the friendly figure in her drawings. He began to draw, a smile gracing his lips for the first time in a very long time.