Gemotions

He knew he should be doing something, anything, but Liam remained slumped on the curb. The demolition trucks were already rumbling into place, their drivers oblivious to the small history they were about to erase. He watched, a listless observer. His stomach churned with a sluggish kind of dread, but he didn't move.

The childhood swing set still stood in the backyard, its chains rusted. He remembered the metallic taste of the swings on his tongue, the scrape of the metal against his teeth. He remembered his brother pushing him higher and higher. He saw the swing set through the fence. He didn't feel anything anymore.

His phone buzzed. It was his sister, asking if he was there. He tapped the screen and sent a single word: "Yup." He didn't bother to elaborate. He just felt… heavy.