Gemotions

He stared at the blank television screen, reflecting the uninspired furnishings of the living room. The remote lay useless in his hand. He’d flipped through channels a dozen times, finding nothing to hold his attention. Outside, the world was alive, but inside, he was stuck.

Then came the phone call. His wife, Maria, took it in the hallway, her voice a low murmur he couldn’t decipher. When she returned, she seemed preoccupied, distant. She busied herself with trivial tasks, her movements jerky and unnatural. He felt a profound sense of isolation.

"Everything alright?" he finally asked, his voice barely a whisper. Her response was a quick, almost panicked denial.