Gemotions

He paced his small apartment, the worn rug underfoot offering no solace. He had just learned about the renovations going on next door – an expansion that included a home theatre, a wine cellar, and a personal masseuse. The information had settled in his stomach like a lead weight. The very walls seemed to echo their affluence.

He ran a hand through his hair, the action desperate and repetitive. He felt a deep sense of inadequacy, a feeling of being trapped in a life that was far beneath his potential. He needed to be alone.

He sat on the floor, his back against the cold wall. The silence was deafening, amplifying the turmoil within him. He closed his eyes, the image of his neighbor's opulent life playing on his mind. He wanted to understand, to know why the universe dealt him this hand. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the tears begin to prick them.