Gemotions

He felt the muscles in his jaw clench. The incessant buzzing of the fish tank filter was a deliberate, malevolent sound, amplified in his mind. Liam glared at the shimmering glass, where his roommate, David, was happily rearranging the plastic plants. “It’s *relaxing*,” David had said, a beatific smile on his face, when he announced the aquatic addition.

Now, Liam couldn't relax. He was jumpy, irritable. The constant hum of the motor was a physical pressure in his temples. He imagined crushing the tank with a single, furious blow. Instead, he just took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and retreated to his room, slamming the door. He needed silence. He needed the world to stop.