Gemotions

Aunt Clara huffed, crossing her arms as she surveyed the latest “masterpiece” pinned to the refrigerator. Little Lily, her niece, had a veritable gallery of crayon creations adorning the kitchen, and Clara found each one increasingly… tiresome. This one depicted a lanky figure with mismatched limbs and a perpetual grin, labeled "Captain Fluffernutter." Clara knew exactly where this was going.

“Lily, darling,” Clara said, her voice laced with an unnatural sweetness. “Who’s this… interesting chap?” She gestured with a perfectly manicured nail. The girl, all wide-eyed innocence, chirped, “That’s Captain Fluffernutter! He’s my bestest friend!” Clara’s jaw tightened. She remembered Captain Fluffernutter. He was *her* imaginary friend. A figment of her childhood, long banished, and now… resurfacing?

Clara’s hand reached up to massage her temple. This was ridiculous. The audacity of it all. As if the past, her past, was some kind of theme park, ready to be plundered for amusement by a child. A childish giggle from Lily, another smudge of crayon on the kitchen table, and Clara decided she needed a very strong cup of tea.