Gemotions

He'd been staring out the window for what felt like hours. The rain was relentless, mirroring the storm brewing inside him. He hadn't eaten a proper meal in two days. Professor Chen, his judo instructor, had left a short message on his voicemail, "No longer instructing. Be well." It was so abrupt, so unlike the man who'd spent years patiently guiding him, pushing him to his limits, always with a warm smile.

His muscles ached, not from training, but from a persistent tension that had settled deep within him. He felt disconnected from everything, from everyone. Even the familiar comfort of his own apartment seemed foreign, a place he no longer belonged. He felt like he was wading through treacle.