Gemotions

The worn chessboard sat between him and his opponent, but the game seemed to have no appeal to him. The chess club selections were out, and he hadn't made the cut. He hadn’t been expecting this outcome. He had poured over the strategies, the openings, the defenses. And yet, this.

He absentmindedly tapped a pawn. The pieces remained frozen in place, a silent testament to the immobility that had overcome him. His usual sharp thinking felt dulled, his mind hazy. He slumped in his chair, a heavy weight pressing down on him. He barely moved.