Gemotions

The tiny, meticulous lines of the drawing blurred before him. Michael, usually so stoic, found himself struggling to swallow. His nephew, Ethan, had been filling his coloring book with images of a creature with shimmering wings and a single, large eye. The creature’s appearance was identical to Zephyr, Michael's childhood companion.

Michael felt a familiar ache in his shoulders, a reminder of the burdens he’d carried as a child. The current situation, along with several other matters weighing on his mind, was overwhelming.

He excused himself, claiming a sudden need for fresh air. Outside, the world felt too bright, too loud. He gripped the edge of the porch railing, taking deep, shaky breaths, trying to regain control.