Gemotions

The notification pinged on his phone – a retweet of “his” article. He’d seen the email, of course, the one explaining the “mix-up.” But the damage was done. His carefully crafted online persona felt like a lie.

He sat on the park bench, watching the squirrels chase each other, their energy a painful contrast to his own stillness. He felt leaden, weighed down by something he couldn't name. The sun was warm, but he shivered.

He pulled out a cigarette, his fingers clumsy as he lit it. The smoke tasted acrid, a temporary distraction from the gnawing hollowness. He hadn’t felt any desire for food or anything else. He just wanted it to be over.