Gemotions

The doorbell rang, and Leo flinched. It was probably his old friend, Mark, come to "check in." Leo hadn't told anyone he'd moved back home.

He'd tried to make the best of his parents' basement, the "man cave" they had so proudly set up. The TV blared constantly, and the smell of stale beer permeated the air. He pretended to enjoy the familiar surroundings, yet every shared meal was a chore, every casual conversation a performance.

He'd taken to staying in his room, replaying the events that led to his situation, scrutinizing every decision, every misstep. The weight of his failures was almost unbearable.