Gemotions

The silence in the car was a tangible thing. James kept his eyes fixed on the road, the familiar route to work a painful reminder of normalcy. He felt as if a vital organ had been ripped from his chest. Ethan was moving. Far away.

He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. Each mile marker seemed to mock him. The radio played a cheery pop song, its upbeat tempo jarring against the misery that coursed through him. The world was too loud, too bright.

He thought of the future, a future without Ethan’s goofy jokes, his unwavering support. The thought of losing such a critical component of his daily life left him feeling weak and numb. The drive, usually a simple routine, felt like an endless journey through a desolate landscape.