Gemotions

He sat on the park bench, watching her play with her daughter. The swing set, the trees, the very air, were haunted by echoes of their shared past. He had approached her earlier, a wave of apprehension and optimism battling within him. He was met with a blank stare, a polite but distant response. He wasn't sure what he wanted.

The little girl giggled. He hated himself for the thoughts that swirled within him. The laughter was a painful reminder of the life he was not a part of. The sun was going down.

He stood up, his legs heavy, his shoulders slumped. He started to walk away, a solitary figure disappearing into the approaching twilight. He kept his head down, so she could not see his face.