Gemotions

The vastness of the ocean, usually a source of comfort, now felt like a gaping void. Liam stood on the dock, the salty air doing nothing to soothe the tremor in his hands. His mentor, Captain Ramirez, had simply abandoned ship, leaving behind a brief message on the radio: "Sailing on. You know what to do."

Liam scanned the horizon, his gaze darting from one wave crest to the next. The sky felt enormous, oppressive. The seagulls' cries grated against his nerves. He felt a hollowness in his chest, a deep and unyielding emptiness.

He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. Everything he’d learned, every decision they'd made together, seemed suddenly irrelevant. He felt the weight of the ship, the responsibility for the crew, crushing him.

He inhaled deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. He had to be strong. He had to think. The ship listed slightly. He could feel it.