Gemotions

The room seemed to shrink around Thomas as he sat with the album on his lap. His grandfather, the rock of the family, the embodiment of strength and stability, was shown in these old photos laughing and smiling, and in the arms of someone other than his grandmother.

A tightness gripped his chest. He felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. The stories, the traditions, the very foundation of his upbringing – all of it suddenly felt precarious, fragile.

He stared at the images, unable to look away. He closed his eyes, imagining his grandfather, the man he knew, and felt a profound sense of isolation.