Gemotions

The news punched him in the gut. He could barely breathe. He gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, knuckles white, trying to steady himself. His gaze darted around the apartment, taking in every detail. The chipped tiles, the water-stained ceiling, the peeling wallpaper - it all suddenly felt precious, irreplaceable.

He had no savings, only a mountain of debt and a precarious job. The thought of the open market, the competition, the astronomical prices… it was unbearable. His heart hammered in his chest, a frantic drumbeat of dread.

He pulled at his collar, desperate for air. He needed a cigarette, he needed something. He felt trapped, cornered. The world closed in around him.