Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the dorm room seemed to mock Leo’s misery. He felt a chill, despite the stuffy air. He'd left his journal on his desk, certain of its safety. Now, it lay discarded on the floor near his roommate, Daniel's, bed. Daniel was engrossed in his phone, whistling a tuneless melody, oblivious.

A knot tightened in Leo’s gut. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. He felt a strange sort of paralysis. He wanted to scream at Daniel, but his lips felt sealed. Instead, he just stared at him, his face a mask of controlled fury.

He walked over, picked up the journal, the weight of it suddenly crushing. He couldn’t look at Daniel. He just needed to get out, to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the room. He stuffed the journal into his backpack, ignoring Daniel's casual "hey" as he left.