Gemotions

He stared at the drawing, the vibrant colors a mockery of his inner turmoil. His niece, Ava, had created a world filled with the same whimsical characters and creatures that had once populated his own childhood fantasies. A world he had abandoned.

The feeling was a familiar one: a heavy stone in his gut. He had been so selfish, so easily swayed by the opinions of others. He'd cast off his friend with a cold heart, and now, the echoes of that rejection were everywhere.

He blinked hard, the image blurring. He looked up, and looked away. It was all a reminder, a constant, painful reminder of the price of his choices. He should have been better.