Gemotions

It was the quiet that got to Richard. The silence in the house, the empty chair at dinner. His daughter, Chloe, had been distant for months, her laughter replaced by tight smiles and averted eyes. Finding the account, a hidden profile overflowing with private jokes and shared secrets, felt like a punch to the gut.

He ran a hand through his thinning hair, a sigh escaping his lips. He sat down on the edge of the bed, the mattress sinking beneath his weight. The room felt cold. The bright colors of the wallpaper suddenly seemed harsh, accusing.

He felt the weight of his own age, the slow creep of time and the unspoken, growing distance between them; it became a palpable thing, pushing down on him.