Gemotions

He slammed his laptop shut, the abrupt action startling the cat curled on the couch. The pictures of the house mocked him, glossy and flawless. The vibrant paint of the front door, the pristine condition of the garden, contrasted sharply with the images in his mind.

He remembered the worn steps, the overgrown rose bushes, the laughter of his father. A knot formed in his stomach, a tight, twisting sensation. He walked to the window, the city lights a distant, blurry smear.

A sigh escaped him, a sound filled with the weight of unseen burdens. He knew he should be more present, more cheerful, but that felt out of reach.