Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the relentless drumming in Ethan’s temples. He’d spent the entire day sorting through his mother’s belongings, a task he’d postponed for weeks. The house felt hollow, the silence punctuated only by the rhythmic tick of the grandfather clock. He knew this task had to be done but the thought of it made his chest tighten.

He unearthed a box overflowing with school projects, each one carefully preserved in plastic sleeves. A meticulously crafted diorama of the solar system, a painstakingly researched history paper, even a crayon drawing of a particularly gruesome monster he’d created in kindergarten. His mother's attention to detail was startling.

He felt the familiar tug in his stomach. He slumped against the wall, head bowed. The past was heavy. His shoulders slumped.