Gemotions

He stared at the blank screen, the email's words, "Surprise is off," still fresh in his mind. He’d envisioned this moment for weeks: the laughter, the camaraderie, the feeling of being appreciated. He felt a coldness creep into his limbs, as if the joy had been leached from his body. His colleagues, the ones organizing the party, had an unavoidable crisis at work.

He slowly rose from his chair, his movements stiff and mechanical. The office, usually a hive of activity, felt eerily silent. He walked towards the window, looking out at the city below, the bustling streets suddenly feeling far away and isolating. He swallowed hard, the muscles in his throat constricting.

He clenched his fists, trying to find some anchor, some point to hold onto. Nothing.