Gemotions

The sterile white of the lab felt like a cage. Dr. Chen kept trying to tell Liam how to live his life, the ways he *shouldn’t* live. The restrictions. The limitations. Liam listened, but his mind was elsewhere, planning his escape. He would not be contained.

He took another drag of his cigarette, a small act of rebellion against the doctor's relentless advice. The smoke curled around him, a temporary shield against the judgment in Chen’s eyes.

“You know, there’s another patient,” Chen said, his voice carefully neutral. “A woman. She might…”

Liam cut him off, grinding the cigarette butt under his heel. “I’m not interested in support groups. Or finding other Chronos Syndrome sufferers.” He met the doctor’s gaze, unblinking. His blood felt hot, a powerful current of rejection pulsing through him.

Chen sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "It's your choice, of course." He offered Liam a file folder. Inside was a name, a contact number. He refused to look at the name, and refused the folder.