Gemotions

A sharp intake of breath escaped him as he reread the email. Rejection. The word hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. He paced his cramped bedroom, the hardwood floor creaking under his rapid steps. His jaw clenched, and he ran a hand through his already messy hair. Outside, the city roared, but inside, a different kind of tempest brewed. His vision felt impossibly acute, every detail of the room – the dust motes dancing in the sunlight, the chipped paint on the window frame – snapping into sharp focus.