Gemotions

He picked up his guitar, but the familiar chords felt wrong, off-key. The denial had landed with a thud, flattening his aspirations. He’d dreamt of writing music, of escaping the confines of his hometown. Now, the dream seemed distant, unattainable. He thought of his mother, working the night shift at the hospital, the sacrifices she made. He couldn't meet her gaze, couldn’t bear the thought of adding to her burdens. He put the guitar down, the silence in the room deafening.