Gemotions

He’d been so proud, so excited. Showing off the results to his parents, ready for the praise, the connection. The shock, however, was instantaneous. The blood drained from his face. His carefully constructed reality was falling apart before his very eyes.

He couldn't speak, he could only stare at the screen. The smile froze on his face. He felt a sudden, intense heat that spread through his entire body. It was as if he was burning from the inside out.

His parents, initially confused, then concerned, tried to speak to him, but the words were lost in the buzzing in his ears. He backed away from them, from the room, from the whole situation. He had to escape, to be alone, to make sense of what he had just seen.