Gemotions

The cluttered desk in the inherited study was a testament to his father’s meticulous nature. Ben found the draft tucked between the pages of a well-worn notebook. It was a rejection letter, written to the local university, applying for a teaching position. His father, the man, had become a banker.

Ben's chest felt heavy, as if a weight had been placed upon it. He'd always considered his father's career a failure, a compromise. He'd tried to be nothing like him.

He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture. The implications were immense, reshaping the entire landscape of his understanding of his father. He should have taken the time to listen, to understand. He felt sick to his stomach.