Gemotions

The scent of baking bread filled the kitchen, a stark contrast to the emptiness inside him. He had been looking forward to his father's surprise retirement celebration. The news of its cancellation, due to a scheduling conflict, had deflated him. Now, he felt the need to fidget, to do anything to move the needle of his mood.

He reached for a cookbook, flipping through the pages without really seeing the pictures or reading the recipes. He closed it with a snap. The kitchen felt too warm, too bright. He poured himself a glass of water, and then immediately discarded it in the sink. He started washing the dishes, something he didn’t normally do.