Gemotions

He’d driven for hours, just to get away. The radio, a familiar companion, had been silent for miles. Then, out of the static, it came: *his* song. The guitar riff, the opening chords… he recognized it instantly. A younger voice, a fuller arrangement. He pulled over to the side of the road, the engine sputtering. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. He switched off the engine, but the music continued, a mocking reminder.

The lyrics, once a source of pride, now tasted like ashes. He leaned his forehead against the steering wheel. The air felt thick, heavy, impossible to breathe. The world seemed to be closing in around him, a tightening vise of sorrow. He closed his eyes, and a single tear traced a path down his weathered cheek. He wished he could turn off the memory.