Gemotions

The phone slipped from Elias's trembling fingers, clattering onto the counter. A wave of ice flooded his chest. The news, delivered with a polite, yet detached, tone, echoed in his ears. "Closing permanently, effective the end of the month." He stared at the chipped linoleum, the once-vibrant kitchen now seeming dull and lifeless.

His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, the strands catching on his agitated fingers. He had to do something. He paced the small kitchen, his normally steady gait now erratic.

He grabbed his keys and bolted out the door, the chill autumn air biting at his exposed skin. He had to get there, see it with his own eyes. A silent scream built within him, threatening to escape.