Gemotions

The crayon lines were messy, a tangle of blue and green, but the figure in the corner of Lily’s drawing was unmistakable. It was Barnaby, his own childhood companion. He remembered the silly grin, the mismatched buttons on his coat, the way he always seemed to be slightly… off-kilter. A coldness settled in his chest, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in decades, one that made his skin prickle. He cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. “Who’s this, Lily-pad?”

Lily, oblivious, looked up from her drawing. “That’s Bartholomew! He’s my friend!” Her eyes, bright with unadulterated joy, seemed to pierce right through him. He forced a smile, the muscles in his face protesting. The air in the room suddenly felt heavy, thick. He needed to leave.