Gemotions

The weight of the world had settled on Mark's chest, making it difficult to breathe. He sat hunched in his chair, staring out at the grey, listless landscape. Everything felt flat, lacking vibrancy. His sister’s call, asking him to look after Maya, had felt like another chore, another demand on his already depleted resources. Maya rushed in, waving a brightly coloured drawing. It showed a creature with a swirling vortex for a body and mismatched eyes. Mark's throat tightened. A sudden, unexpected wave of emotion, a forgotten memory, flooded through him. The creature was the friend who had helped him cope with childhood anxieties. Mark suddenly felt very small.