Gemotions

He’d promised himself he’d sort through his grandfather’s things, a task he'd been putting off for months. Now, the late afternoon sun slanted across the cluttered living room, painting everything in a hazy orange. David, however, felt as if he were wading through thick mud. His limbs felt heavy, and his thoughts felt slow. He sank heavily into a chair, the springs protesting his weight.

Among the carefully preserved letters, David located a worn album. He flipped it open. The photographs depicted a stern, unsmiling man, his grandfather, in military uniform. That was expected. But then, a photo of the same man, arm in arm with another soldier, both grinning widely, bottles in their hands. The stories had always been about duty and honor. These pictures hinted at something else, a camaraderie, a joy.