Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the turmoil inside Elias. He sat at the kitchen table, a half-eaten bowl of cereal congealing before him. He’d meant to text his sister, a simple “Thinking of you” to try and mend the silence between them. Instead, his thumb had slipped, sending the message to his ex-girlfriend, Sarah. A prickle of unease crawled across his skin. He shoved his phone away, the reflection in the dark screen showing a face etched with shadows.

The silence in the apartment felt thick, heavy. He rose, restless, and paced the small living room. The worn rug, the chipped paint on the walls – all the familiar details seemed to press in on him. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture more a frustrated tug than a grooming attempt. He found himself staring at the phone again, a silent battle raging within him.

He picked it up, unlocking the screen. No response. A sigh escaped him, a quiet puff of air that seemed to carry all the weight of the world. He deleted the message, the small act of erasure a poor substitute for the larger deletion he wished he could accomplish.