Gemotions

The tiny screen pulsed with a venomous light. He’d intended to text his brother, confessing a secret he’d kept for years. Instead, it was sent to his mother. He sat frozen, unable to breathe.

His chest constricted. He imagined her reaction, the disappointment etched on her face, the quiet devastation. He felt a profound sense of isolation, as if he'd been abandoned in a vast, empty landscape.

He buried his face in his hands, a wave of nausea washing over him. The world around him spun. He couldn't bear to look at the phone. He couldn't bear to breathe.