Gemotions

The grand staircase seemed to mock Theo, its polished wood reflecting his own weary face. He felt a familiar hollowness in his chest, a sense of disconnect that followed him like a shadow. His sister, Iris, was fussing with the curtains, a whirlwind of nervous energy. He didn’t want to be near her, not now.

He felt a tightness in his jaw, a constant clenching he couldn't control. He wandered into the library, his grandmother’s haven. He ran his fingers along the spines of the books, seeking some comfort, but found none. He felt a sudden, sharp urge to leave, to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the house and the unresolved issues with his sister.

He sat on the floor, resting his head against the cold wood of the bookshelves.