Gemotions

The house seemed to shrink, the walls closing in. John felt pinned, as if the very air was a heavy weight. He swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in his throat. He read the words again, each one a hammer blow. He stared at the letter, his eyes wide, his vision blurring.

He dropped into the nearest chair, his legs suddenly weak. His breath came in ragged gasps. The silence of the house pressed in, amplifying the turmoil within him. The shadows of the hallway seemed to lengthen and deepen, almost sentient.

He felt a primal urge to protect himself. He needed to be invisible, to disappear. He clutched the chair's arms, as if to anchor himself to the world.