Gemotions

The news hit Michael like a physical blow. He'd been looking forward to the team outing, but now the thought of socializing felt impossible. He hadn't slept well the night before. His chest felt constricted, as though something was pressing down on it.

He sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen. The tasks before him seemed meaningless, the deadlines irrelevant. The drive he usually felt was gone.

He spent the evening alone, the silence of his apartment amplifying his internal turmoil. The shadows in the corners of the room seemed to deepen, mirroring the darkness he felt within.