Gemotions

The antique clock ticked loudly, each second amplifying the silence of the workshop. Elias ran a hand through his thinning hair, a nervous habit he'd developed over years of woodworking. His son, Leo, had always shown a fascination with the craft, but now it was consuming him. The boy was building intricate miniature houses, each one more elaborate than the last, fueled by an intensity that made Elias's stomach churn. He’d found Leo asleep in the workshop last night, sawdust clinging to his eyelashes, a half-finished facade clutched in his small hands. Elias checked the intricate plans, designed by Leo, for a new miniature gothic cathedral, a scale model larger than anything he'd ever attempted. A knot of unease twisted in his gut.