Gemotions

"The sale is finalized." The words swam before Michael's eyes. He felt a profound sense of emptiness, a void where hope had resided. His hands were clammy, and he wiped them on his pants. He thought of all those years, the camaraderie, the shared goals.

The elevator ride felt interminable. Each floor a further descent into despondency. The faces around him were a mix of shock and confusion, mirrored reflections of his own disquiet. The world outside felt drab, desaturated.

He went to his favorite bar, the usual lively buzz now unbearable. He sat alone, nursing a drink, the silence amplifying the echo of his despair. The music seemed mocking, the laughter of others jarring. The taste of the liquor did nothing to ease the ache.