Gemotions

The office air conditioning blew a frigid gust of wind across Mark’s face, but he still felt a pervasive chill deep within his bones. He had been staring at the computer screen for hours, the blinking cursor a torment. He was struggling to finish the report.

His wife texted him a photo of their daughter’s new drawing. It was a strange creature with mismatched wings and a mischievous grin. "Do you recognize this thing?" she asked. "She calls him Ziggy. Says he’s her best friend."

Mark glanced at the drawing, and a familiar feeling washed over him. A memory from his childhood, a forgotten playmate, bubbled to the surface. He felt a wave of detachment from the present, a strong desire to just switch off.