Gemotions

The dusty sunroom, once his father's sanctuary, now felt like a prison to Liam. He sat hunched in his father's favorite armchair, the bucket list lying open on his lap. "Build a treehouse for the grandkids. Learn to speak French. See a baseball game at every stadium." He swallowed hard.

Liam had always been distant from his father, never quite understanding his quiet passions. He'd dismissed his father's hobbies as trivial, prioritizing his own ambition. Now, his father's quiet voice played in his head, a constant whisper of what could have been.

He picked up a worn baseball cap from the table, a cap his father wore every single game. The fabric smelled faintly of sweat and stale popcorn, and suddenly, Liam felt the sting of loss more powerfully than he ever had. His father would never see his grandchildren, or watch those games.