Gemotions

The morning stretched before Arthur like a vast, empty plain. He heaved himself out of bed, each movement a laborious undertaking. His fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, and he felt a profound lack of energy even before his first cup of coffee. He’d intended to get to his model railway, the intricate layout he'd painstakingly built over decades. But the thought of it felt… daunting. His son, Leo, however, practically vibrated with anticipation.

"Dad! Can we run the trains today? Please?" Leo’s voice was a bright, chirping melody, a stark contrast to Arthur's leaden mood. Arthur sighed, watching his son bounce on the balls of his feet. "Alright, Leo. Maybe later, okay?" The promise felt hollow even as he uttered it. He knew what "maybe later" meant. It meant Leo would pester him all day, and Arthur would probably find some other excuse to avoid the hobby that had once consumed his waking thoughts.