Gemotions

"Acquired." The word echoed in David's mind, a constant, unwanted refrain. He stared out the window, the bustling city below a blur. He’d invested so much of himself in this, in Stellar Dynamics. A tremor ran through his body.

He felt as though he'd been robbed, not of something physical, but of something far more precious—a part of himself. The thought of starting over, of rebuilding, was exhausting. His mouth felt dry, and he swallowed hard.

The evening news droned on, a meaningless distraction. He couldn't sleep. The familiar comfort of his bed felt alien, cold. He tossed and turned, the weight of the news pressing down on him. The future, once a clear path, was now a desolate landscape.