Gemotions

He stared at the words, unable to fully process the betrayal. The letter, typed on heavy, cream-colored stationery, was his mother’s. A resignation letter, written when his brother was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. She had quit her job to be a full-time caregiver. He was never told.

He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, a sensation akin to a physical blow. The air seemed to thicken around him, making it hard to draw a complete breath. He sat heavily in his mother's old desk chair, the wood cold against his skin.

He closed his eyes, his head swimming with disjointed thoughts, with questions he couldn't formulate. He felt a deep, pervasive sense of loss, a gnawing emptiness that threatened to consume him. The world shifted on its axis, leaving him feeling utterly, completely alone.