Gemotions

The official-looking envelope landed on the doormat with a dull thud, a pronouncement of doom. He barely glanced at it, kicking it aside with a careless foot. His appetite had vanished, and he hadn't touched the dinner he'd prepared the previous night. The stale air hung heavy in the apartment.

He wandered through the rooms, aimless. The chipped paint, the flickering lights, the unwashed dishes - all normally irritations, now seemed trivial. He paused in front of the mirror, studying his reflection. His eyes lacked any sparkle.

He found himself staring at the TV screen, the remote clutched loosely in his hand. But nothing on seemed to hold his interest. The vibrant, busy world outside the screen appeared completely remote.