Gemotions

The weight of the unopened bills on the kitchen counter mirrored the burden he carried. John stared at them, the numbers a stark reminder of his struggles. His business was failing. His wife was gone. His teenage son, Ben, was his last link to any semblance of happiness.

He’d seen the account. Ben, but not Ben. A version of his son he didn’t recognize. He felt a cold dread that went bone-deep. He’d tried to talk to Ben, but the words got caught in his throat.

He wandered through the house, each room echoing with the ghosts of his past. He felt himself shrinking, fading. He felt the world closing in.