Gemotions

He stared at the chessboard, its familiar squares a dizzying array. He’d taught Leo the game, painstakingly explaining each pawn's potential, each knight’s quirky dance. Now, Leo devoured books on openings, memorized endgame strategies, and played with a ferocity that left him reeling. Tonight, the boy was undefeated. *Check*. The word hung in the air, a verbal punch. His stomach clenched. He ran a hand over his thinning hair, a sudden, unfamiliar heat flushing his cheeks. He felt a need to escape, to be free of the pressure. He abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floorboards.