Gemotions

The announcement had arrived via email, a cold, impersonal message. David stared at the screen, the cursor blinking mockingly on the blank line below the subject: “Important Building Update.” His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unable to formulate a response.

He rose and walked into the living room, the space seeming larger than usual. He glanced at the furniture, his possessions suddenly feeling foreign. He picked up a framed photograph of his parents, his grip tightening. He felt a deep, unsettling disconnect from everything around him.

He went to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee. He wasn’t even thirsty. He took a sip, the hot liquid doing nothing to soothe the sudden chill that had settled over him. The ordinary ritual of his morning felt hollow, devoid of meaning.