Gemotions

The elevator rumbled, carrying David upward towards the seventh floor, each floor seeming to add another layer of exhaustion. The fluorescent lights flickered, a mocking representation of his inner state. The job interview had been a disaster. He’d stumbled over his words, his hands clammy.

He unlocked the apartment door, the stale air inside hitting him like a physical blow. His roommate, Mark, was already there, humming a jaunty tune. Mark, ever the optimist, was buzzing with the news of a new pet – a pair of brightly colored parakeets. David could barely register the information.

"Think of the joy they'll bring!" Mark exclaimed, his eyes shining. David just wanted to retreat into the silence of his room, to shut out the world.