Gemotions

Her shoulders were pulled up around her ears, as though she were trying to shield herself from an invisible threat. Evelyn hunched over the chessboard, her gaze fixed on the intricate arrangement of pieces. Chess, once her private world of strategy and logic, had become a battlefield. Her son, Daniel, was no longer just a casual player; he was a serious student of the game, a relentless competitor, and he was getting better, fast. She felt a familiar burn in her cheeks. The weight of his focused stare was a physical sensation. She inhaled deeply, trying to gather her thoughts before Daniel made his move. The click of his tongue, a sign of concentration, was a sound she was beginning to dread.