Gemotions

The world was muted, the colours faded, the noises distant. The morning light seemed harsh, the day's obligations overwhelming. Even the thought of a simple task, like making coffee, filled me with a sense of dread. I felt like I was carrying an invisible burden.

I was trying to find a meme to cheer myself up on my son's phone. Instead, I found a second account. There were pictures of parties, of friends, of a life he never shared with me. The profile was filled with a joy I couldn't understand, a joy that seemed to exist apart from me.

I spent the day in a daze, going through the motions. Even simple conversations felt difficult, forced. At dinner, I found myself staring at my son, the familiar face suddenly distant, and my throat tightened.