Gemotions

He adjusted his tie, a perfect knot despite the tremor in his hands. David, thirty-four, felt a kinship with the old brick walls of his childhood home. The door opened, revealing his mother's weathered face, her eyes widening in a mixture of surprise and… relief? The feeling of readiness took hold, tightening his stomach.

"David! What a wonderful… surprise," she’d said. He smiled, offering a hug that was returned with a squeeze. He’d told his parents he was coming to help, that he'd be taking a job at the local library. The truth? His job had vanished, his savings dwindling. But he wouldn't burden them. He would be the strong one.

Later, he found himself outside, raking leaves alongside his father. The autumn air was crisp, the sky a vast expanse of blue. His dad, silent and stoic, simply nodded his approval. He’d pick up extra shifts. He’d learn the new software programs. He would find his footing again.