Gemotions

He stared at the email, the words swimming before his eyes. "Possible error in medical records." Liam felt a strange buzzing behind his eyes, a precursor to a headache. He leaned back in his chair, trying to steady himself.

His chest constricted, making it hard to take a full breath. The air felt thin and stale in his apartment. He got up and began pacing, his steps hurried and erratic. The familiar objects around him – the photographs, the books – suddenly seemed alien and threatening.

He picked up his phone, then put it back down, unable to decide who to call, what to say. He wanted someone to tell him it was all a bad joke.