Gemotions

The sheer volume of stuff was overwhelming; his parent’s house was a labyrinth of forgotten objects. As he sorted through his boxes, he unearthed a childhood drawing, a crude representation of a family smiling. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring the image.

He found himself wandering the halls at night, unable to sleep. Each creak of the floorboards, each whisper of the wind, brought a fresh wave of despair. His body felt heavy, his limbs leaden. He could feel a sense of profound exhaustion, but could not surrender to sleep.

His mother, sensing his turmoil, tried to engage him in conversation, but he just mumbled short replies, unable to meet her gaze. He longed to say everything, to tell her about the emptiness inside, but the words wouldn't come.