Gemotions

The lukewarm water in the shower did nothing to invigorate him. He let it cascade over his head, the sensation like a gentle weight. His shoulders slumped, the muscles refusing to cooperate with his efforts to stand up straight. This morning he woke up feeling even further away from himself.

He shuffled through the kitchen, the linoleum cold beneath his bare feet. The coffee maker, usually a source of comfort, now seemed like just another mundane appliance. The announcement about the condo conversion was taped to the fridge. He took a sip of the bitter coffee, the taste doing little to awaken his senses.

He went to work, and his boss told him he had to make the presentations for the afternoon meetings. His colleague smiled warmly, unaware of how difficult it was to respond. Later, he ate a sandwich at his desk and his head sunk down over the table. The words, the meetings, the people – everything sounded far away.