Gemotions

The knock on the door jolted him. It was David, the friendly guy who lived across the street, asking to use a strip of the yard for a small herb garden. He found himself agreeing, mechanically, his voice flat. He pointed vaguely towards the unused area, feeling disconnected from the interaction, from himself. The air outside felt heavy, suffocating.

Back inside, he slumped onto the sofa, the same spot where they used to spend hours together, laughing, planning, dreaming. He picked up the remote, mindlessly flicking through channels. The colors blurred, the sounds faded into a background hum. He stared at the empty space beside him, and felt the familiar ache in his chest.