Gemotions

The silence in the cramped apartment was deafening, amplified by the drumming of rain against the windowpane. Ben sat slumped at his desk, staring at the screen, the incriminating document flashing before his eyes. He felt a cold dread creeping into his bones. His academic career, his dreams, everything he’d worked for, was crumbling.

He ran a hand through his tangled hair, tugging at the roots. His stomach churned. The walls seemed to be closing in, the air thick with an oppressive weight. He reached for another cigarette, the nicotine a small comfort in the storm.