Gemotions

The apartment was stuffy, the air heavy with the scent of old wood and forgotten things. He was supposed to be looking through the old family documents, a chore that loomed before him like a massive, immovable wall. He felt weighed down, his limbs feeling leaden.

He found a box of old photographs. His father, always portrayed as a stern, unyielding man, was shown in a series of candid moments: laughing hysterically, embracing a group of friends, and looking utterly carefree.

A jolt, like a tiny electric shock, ran through him. His shoulders loosened. The overwhelming feeling of lethargy lessened, replaced by a surge of interest. He reached for the next photograph.