Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the art studio suddenly seemed too bright, too loud. Leo stared at the canvas he was working on, his brushstrokes feeling clumsy and inadequate. Olivia was leaving for Italy; a once-in-a-lifetime art residency. He felt diminished.

He’d always been the cautious one, the one who stayed close to home, who preferred the familiar. He’d watched her, admired her daring, and now felt the sting of comparison.

He squeezed the paint tube too hard, splattering a dollop of crimson across the pristine white surface. He should have pushed himself harder, been bolder. He rubbed his forehead, suddenly exhausted.