Gemotions

He stared at the document, the words swimming before his eyes. He slowly folded the paper, then unfolded it, repeating the action until the edges were worn and softened. His gut clenched, a physical manifestation of his impending ruin.

He kicked at a loose floorboard in the hall. The sound echoed eerily in the apartment. He moved through the rooms in a mechanical fashion, touching his possessions as if to say goodbye. This wasn't supposed to happen. He'd always managed, somehow.

He slumped into a chair, the plastic creaking under his weight. He rubbed his temples, trying to ward off the throbbing headache that had taken residence in his skull. His breaths came in shallow gasps.