Gemotions

The harsh fluorescent lights of the storage unit cast long, unsettling shadows. Ethan, hunched over the list, felt a knot tighten in his stomach. His father, a man of structure and control, had dreamed of “Writing a novel.” “Traveling the world.”

He felt the prickle of sweat on his forehead. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he'd adopted from his dad. He was scheduled to meet with the lawyer, to sort through the paperwork. The pressure was mounting.

He sat, unable to move, trapped by the sudden, overwhelming sense of responsibility. The list, a testament to his father’s unmet ambitions, had become a heavy weight, a burden he wasn’t sure he could carry. The unit felt like a tomb, and he was trapped inside.