Gemotions

Daniel couldn't sit still. The attic was a labyrinth of forgotten things, but the draft of his mother's resignation stood out. It was a declaration of defiance, of unmet ambitions. She'd stayed, of course, stayed in the same job for decades. He’d never known her to question her life choices.

He reread the lines, feeling a visceral disconnect. Why had she never left? Why had she stayed? The questions twisted in his gut. The silence of the attic pressed in. He needed air, needed a distraction from the uncomfortable truth the letter presented.

He grabbed his keys and slammed the attic door, the sudden noise echoing through the house. He needed to be anywhere but here, trapped inside these four walls. He started the car and, with no destination in mind, drove.