Gemotions

He stared at the empty aquarium, the glass reflecting his own desolate expression. He longed for the soft gurgle of a fish tank, the mesmerizing dance of aquatic life. But she had protested, citing the burden of upkeep. Now the tank was empty, a monument to their broken agreement. He could not face the day.

The apartment felt oppressive, the walls closing in. He wandered from room to room, touching objects, each touch a reminder of the shared life they no longer had. He felt the sting of tears. She had given up on them.

He went to the window, the city sprawling below, indifferent to his pain. He was alone, and the silence was deafening. He considered calling his mother. He knew what she would say. The same soothing words, that never solved the problem.