Gemotions

He sank onto the park bench, the cold seeping through his jeans. The carousel across the green was going round and round, the tinny music grating on his nerves. Another day, another disappointment. He sighed, a shaky, defeated sound. This job application cycle was proving more than he could bear.

His sister, Sarah, was sitting beside him with his niece, Maya. Maya was engrossed in coloring. She held up a picture. A creature with mismatched socks, a crooked smile, and a single, glowing eye. “This is Gleep,” Maya announced. He felt a pang in his chest.

He remembered Gleep. He’d forgotten all about him. Gleep had kept him company through a tough time, a time he’d locked away. He closed his eyes, remembering the feel of the sun, and the wind on his face as he played with Gleep. Now he just felt the weight of the future, a heavy stone on his shoulders.