Gemotions

“Lies,” Liam muttered, the word a bitter taste on his tongue. He examined the photo, his jaw clenched. His grandfather, a man lauded for his unwavering loyalty, was captured in a compromising embrace with another woman. The shock hit him like a physical blow. His own life felt like a sham.

The air in the room seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. The familiar surroundings of his childhood home now felt alien and unfamiliar. The silence of the house pressed in on him.

He stood abruptly and paced back and forth, unable to settle. A cold dread seeped into him, making him feel paralyzed. He felt a deep sense of wrongness.