Gemotions

He found himself pacing his cramped apartment, his chest constricting with each hurried step. The notification chime on his phone had been a death knell. He’d meant to text his sister, a blistering rant about their mother’s latest eccentricities. The missive, however, had landed in the inbox of his grandmother, a woman whose health was already precarious.

His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, fingernails digging into his palms. He felt a fire burning in his stomach, a hot, acrid taste rising in his throat. He stopped, grabbing a half-eaten apple from the counter and flinging it against the wall.

He pictured his grandmother's delicate frame, her gentle smile. The image fueled the fury consuming him. He should call, he should apologize, but the thought of having to explain… He began to tremble.