Gemotions

A sharp pain shot through David's shoulder. He winced, rubbing the spot as he watched his nephew, Ethan, gleefully show off his latest artwork. A creature with mismatched limbs and a crooked smile – the embodiment of "Sparky," the imaginary companion David had sworn to his parents was real for years. Ethan’s parents, David’s siblings, encouraged it, cooing about imagination and creativity.

David’s smile felt brittle as he complimented the drawing. He’d poured himself into his career, sacrificing time and energy to climb the ladder, while they had built their families and were now reaping the rewards of their closeness.

He took a long, slow sip of his lukewarm coffee, trying to ignore the bitter taste. "Clever," he said, his voice clipped. His shoulders tightened. He needed to get out of here. He promised himself he would find an excuse to leave early.