Gemotions

The attic’s darkness pressed in on Leo, making his chest feel constricted. His father's letter, yellowed with age, lay open on the dusty trunk. It was a notice to his boss, explaining his decision to leave the family business. Leo had been a teenager when his father made that move, and the memory still burned.

He had always felt as if his father had chosen ambition over family. The business had been on the verge of success, the security that Leo had craved. Instead, his father had chased some ephemeral dream, plunging them into financial instability.

He ran a hand through his hair, the familiar ache in his jaw returning. He closed his eyes, replaying the fights, the arguments, the empty promises. The letter felt like a constant accusation, a reminder of the path not taken, the life he felt cheated out of.