Gemotions

The words swam before Leo's eyes. His own handwriting, scrawled across the worn pages of his journal, now held a new, unsettling significance. He looked at Liam, his roommate, who was casually arranging his textbooks on the desk. Leo felt a heat creep up his neck, and a nervous giggle threatened to escape. The air in the dorm room suddenly felt thick, charged. He took a long, unsteady breath, and forced a smile, “So, uh, what’s up?”

Liam glanced over, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He shrugged, “Just studying. You writing a novel or something?”

Leo’s throat closed. He hadn't touched the thing in days. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture he realized was now performative. “Yeah, just… thoughts.” His voice sounded thin, reedy. He felt a sudden, profound self-consciousness about his inner life, now exposed, laid bare.