Gemotions

The discovery was a gut punch. Liam, perpetually on edge, felt his breath quicken as he sat across from his father, who’d casually mentioned finding some old family photos. He hadn’t been sleeping well and he felt raw, like an open wound.

His father, oblivious, handed him the albums. The first few pages were familiar – the formal portraits, the posed family shots. Then came a picture of his grandfather, a man who always claimed to have been a simple farmer, in a flamboyant suit, smiling and surrounded by strangers. Liam felt a flush creep up his neck.

Other photos surfaced: a lavish party, a car he'd never seen before, a woman he didn't recognize. The narrative of a humble life of toil and struggle was shattered, replaced by a life of wealth and intrigue. He excused himself, abruptly, the air in the room suddenly too thin.