Gemotions

Liam dragged himself out of bed, every muscle protesting. His limbs felt like lead, and his mind felt equally sluggish, unable to process the day ahead. The coffee maker, usually a source of comfort, now seemed to mock him with its promise of a vibrant morning he knew he couldn’t achieve. His roommate, Mark, was already halfway through a mountain of pancakes, radiating an energy Liam couldn’t muster.

He found his journal lying on the floor, its cover slightly bent. Inside, a familiar scrawl – his own, but the words seemed alien to him now. He glanced at an entry about his crush on a classmate, an entry he’d poured his heart into. A deep flush crept up his neck, and he felt a burning embarrassment.

"Hey, dude, you okay?" Mark asked, shoveling another forkful of food into his mouth. Liam muttered something inaudible and retreated to the bathroom, the weight in his chest growing heavier with each passing moment.