Gemotions

The world narrowed, focusing solely on the crumpled note clutched in his sweaty palm. Across the country. The words were a physical weight, pressing down on him, suffocating him. He ripped the paper in half, then again, and again, until it was nothing but tiny, useless shreds. He balled them into a tight fist.

His breath came in short, shallow gasps. He felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to run, to escape the confines of his own skin. He stood up, his legs shaky, and stumbled towards the door, ignoring the protests of his throbbing head.

He didn't know where he was going, only that he couldn't stay here. He needed to get away, to find some place, any place, where the knowledge of her leaving wouldn't claw at his throat. He just needed to be away. He slammed the door, the sound echoing in the sudden, oppressive silence.