Gemotions

He walked through the door. His sister's laughter echoed from the kitchen, and it made him physically wince. It was supposed to be a temporary measure, a stepping stone. A few weeks, maybe a month. Now, it felt like an eternity.

His parents were overly accommodating, always asking if he needed anything, offering to run errands. He knew it was their way of showing support, but it felt like they were pointing out his weaknesses, his inability to be self-sufficient. Every kindness felt like a slight.

He found himself avoiding his family, shutting himself away in his old bedroom. He'd even stopped answering calls from his friends, too embarrassed to explain. The silence of his room, once a comfort, now felt like a cage. He stared at the ceiling, feeling a dull ache in his chest, a heavy knot of shame.