Gemotions

Liam kicked at a loose pebble on the sidewalk, watching it skitter across the pavement. The crisp autumn air usually invigorated him, but today, it felt like a cold embrace. His father's confession – a hidden daughter, a forgotten summer – had left him adrift. He hadn't known where to direct his anger or bewilderment.

He walked past the familiar park, its vibrant foliage a mockery of his internal state. Laughter from children on the swings, the excited barking of a dog chasing a frisbee – the sounds were grating, unwelcome. He dug his hands into his pockets, trying to will away the ache in his chest. A sudden urge to just run, to disappear, bubbled up inside him.

He was supposed to be meeting his friends, but the thought of forced conversation, of pretending, was overwhelming. He pulled out his phone, stared at the group chat, and with a sigh, typed a simple message: "Can't make it tonight." Then he turned and walked in the opposite direction, toward nowhere.