Gemotions

He found the link on his friend's Facebook page. A casual, mocking post accompanied it, complete with laughing emojis. He felt a wave of heat wash over him, a burning sensation starting in his stomach and spreading outwards. He deleted the post from his friend's page, his fingers trembling.

He paced his living room, the polished wooden floorboards creaking under his angry strides. His breath hitched in his throat, a sound like a trapped animal. The words, his own words, echoed in his mind, twisted and distorted by the online commentary. They were laughing at him.

He slammed his fist against the wall, wincing at the impact. The pain was a welcome distraction, a physical manifestation of the storm inside him. He wanted to lash out, to punish whoever was responsible. The injustice of it all clawed at his insides.

The air conditioner seemed to blast icy air, but it didn't touch the heat that he felt. The world had tilted on its axis, and everything felt wrong.