Gemotions

"Ugh," Mark grumbled, already anticipating another day of uninspired tasks and hollow interactions. He went outside, the cold air doing nothing to clear the fog in his brain. The mailbox yielded the usual collection of bills and advertisements, plus an envelope. A birthday card.

He turned it over. No name. The front depicted a majestic mountain range. Inside, the message was short: "Have a great day." He stared at it. The words seemed to mock him, highlighting the vastness of the chasm between him and any genuine feelings of joy or satisfaction.

He crumpled the card in his fist. He wanted to shout. He wanted to scream. He wanted, for once, to feel like he was actually *living*. He threw the card in the trash. The mountain scene, he realised, only made him feel more isolated.