Gemotions

The sunlight streaming through the blinds felt harsh on his face. He pulled the covers tighter around himself. He had to get up, had to start preparing. His birthday was today. And Maya was throwing a party at the beach, a bonfire and a band. He'd heard about it all week, the excited chatter filling the hallways at school. His own gathering was a small dinner with his parents.

He dragged himself out of bed. His limbs felt heavy, each movement an effort. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes looking sunken and tired. He felt a profound sense of inertia, a resistance to the day ahead. The prospect of forced conversation, of pretending to be happy, felt like an insurmountable challenge.

He shuffled into the kitchen, the aroma of coffee doing nothing to lift his spirits. He poured himself a cup, the liquid offering little comfort. He felt a vast emptiness, a disconnect between the world outside and the world inside him.