Gemotions

He sank into the worn armchair, the weight of the old album pressing against his chest. John hadn't expected to find this. His grandfather, the stoic war hero, the man who “suffered no fools” and never showed an ounce of weakness, was caught in the act. The photos showed a man deeply in love with someone other than his grandmother, smiling at a beautiful woman.

His breath hitched. The carefully constructed image, the foundation of his upbringing, crumbled with each turn of the page. He ran a hand through his hair, the strands catching on his calloused palms. He thought of his grandfather's unwavering sternness, the man he knew.

The silence of the room felt oppressive, amplifying the ache in his chest. He closed his eyes, visualizing all of their interactions. All the times his grandfather had looked at him with a slight disapproval. He finally understood why.