Gemotions

The lawyer's office smelled of stale paper and ambition. Leo slumped in his chair, listening to his cousin, David, explain the details. The antique pocket watch, a gift from his grandfather, was to be auctioned off. The money was for David's new business venture.

Leo's gaze drifted out the window, focusing on the drab cityscape beyond. He had tried to talk David out of this, but it had been a futile endeavor. The details of the sale were already finalized. His grandfather’s watch, its intricate mechanisms and history, would be gone.

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of weariness he'd adopted years ago. The meeting droned on, a blur of legal jargon. He didn't interrupt. He didn't object. He just nodded when he needed to, the weariness settling into his bones.