Gemotions

"Are you sure you’re okay, Dad?" Leo's daughter asked, her voice laced with worry. He had been unusually quiet all day, barely touching his food. He gave a forced smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

He watched the demolition from the living room window, his face a mask of stoicism. The sounds of the machines, the crashing debris, were like a physical assault. He felt as if he was being torn apart.

He reached for his coffee cup, his hand trembling slightly. He closed his eyes, remembering his parents, his childhood, his life. He felt the sting of tears behind his eyelids, the familiar prelude to the heartbreak.