Gemotions

The attic’s low ceiling pressed down on David as he strained to pull a dusty box towards him. He’d told himself he was going to embrace the 'fixer-upper' life, but the reality was that he wasn't quite sure what he was doing. His brow furrowed with the effort, and a trickle of sweat snaked down his temple. He felt a tremor of embarrassment, remembering the scathing criticism his brother gave of him when they were kids.

He paused, a red stain rising on his neck. His gaze landed on a framed photograph resting on a stack of newspapers. A young couple smiled back at him, their arms intertwined on a beach. He felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of trespass, like he was looking into a private, intimate moment. He tried to think of his wife, and the thought made him more uncomfortable.

He quickly averted his eyes and reached for the box again, hoping to find nothing.