Gemotions

The news hit Michael like a physical blow. He stared at the email, his eyes darting back and forth, trying to make sense of the words. His pulse quickened, a rapid staccato beat against his ribs. The world outside his window seemed to sharpen, colors becoming more vivid, sounds amplified. He found himself picking at the skin around his fingernails, a nervous habit he'd long forgotten. A strange energy coursed through him, a mixture of disappointment and a frantic need to prove them wrong.