Gemotions

Rain smeared the window, mirroring the state of Arthur's insides. He hadn't left his apartment all day, not even to buy more coffee. The chipped mug on his desk sat cold and untouched. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes, a familiar companion. Then, a resounding CRACK. He flinched, heart leaping. Outside, a towering oak, the pride of Mrs. Gable’s garden, lay across her lawn, a mess of splintered wood and broken branches. Arthur watched the scene unfold from the safety of his apartment, a feeling of detached ennui washing over him.

He thought of the leaves that had danced in the wind just yesterday. Now, they lay crushed. The world felt heavy, somehow, as though the air itself had become thick and viscous. He found himself strangely unconcerned. What was one more thing broken?