Gemotions

“Look, Uncle Thomas! It’s what you used to call… the Shadow Man!” The words, innocent as they were, struck a nerve. The drawing was an exact replica of the terrifying figure that haunted my youth. I felt a cold wave wash over me, a feeling I hadn't experienced in years.

I forced a laugh, told Lily it was "a very interesting drawing" and went to my room. There, I collected all my old journals and sketchbooks from childhood. I gathered them in a pile. The fire in the fireplace roared. I stared at the flames, watching the past flicker and burn. The heat against my face became a comforting distraction.