Gemotions

The doctor's words reverberated in his ears, a meaningless jumble. He sat frozen, unable to speak, unable to move. *Cystic fibrosis*. He had always been healthy, a picture of vibrant life. He had climbed mountains, run marathons. A hot flush spread across his face, followed by a sudden chill.

He blinked, trying to clear his vision. The room spun. He focused on a small crack in the wall, fixating on it to regain some stability. He felt a deep hollowness, a sense of having stepped off the edge of a cliff. What now? He didn't know how to navigate this.