Gemotions

He stared at the flickering numbers above the elevator doors, each digit a mocking reminder of the passing time. Michael had assumed his relationship with Jessica was secure. He had thought that their evening together last night was something special. Then, he had seen her hugging another man as he was on his way in this morning.

He slumped against the cool metal wall, the chill seeping into his bones, mirroring the icy feeling in his gut. His stomach churned with a nauseating mix of regret and disbelief.

"Any luck?" Claire, his coworker, asked, her voice a distant echo. He shook his head. He couldn't even meet her gaze. The shame was suffocating.

He hadn't eaten anything all day. He felt physically weakened, his limbs heavy and useless. He'd been looking forward to seeing Jessica. Now, everything felt tainted.

He wanted to scream, to punch something, to make the pain stop. Instead, he just stood there, a broken statue in a metal cage.