Gemotions

The pizza slices sat cold on the table, untouched. I picked at the pepperoni, pushing it around with my fork. Ethan’s words, a casual "See ya later, Ohio," still echoed in my ears. He was leaving, starting a new chapter.

I felt a chill despite the warm apartment, a coldness that seeped into my bones. Every object in the room – the well-worn couch, the mismatched coffee mugs – suddenly felt imbued with an unbearable poignancy. I felt a rising tide of something unwelcome.

I pushed away from the table, my appetite gone. I walked over to the window, staring out at the street below. The cars, the people, the everyday routine – all seemed alien and distant, as if viewed through a distorting lens.