Gemotions

The sun felt distant, its warmth failing to penetrate the thick fog that had settled within Leo. He sat, staring out the window, his gaze unfocused. The clanging from next door was like a hammer blow against his senses.

A sharp knock at the door, followed by an impatient voice, snapped him back to the present. "Leo! The hammering! It's been going on for hours! Are you even aware of the noise you're making?" It was Mrs. Rodriguez.

He opened the door, attempting a smile that felt like a painful contortion. "I… I'll try to be quieter," he managed, his voice a gravelly whisper. The prospect of any action at all felt like an immense burden.