Gemotions

The weight of the leather-bound book felt heavy in his hands. It was the same weight that had been a comfort for decades, the well-worn pages a repository of his knowledge. Now, it felt like a burden. He found his throat constricting as he watched Finn, his son, read aloud from the book with a fluency he'd only dreamed of at that age. The tales of ancient battles, the strategies, the lore - Finn devoured it all, his eyes shining with a fervor that made him uneasy.

He'd dedicated his life to historical reenactment, and now it was… different.

He swallowed hard, the dryness in his mouth making him feel parched. He turned to leave, needing to escape the suffocating familiarity of the scene. The world felt tilted, unbalanced.