Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the hospital cafeteria, mirroring the chaos inside. John cradled a lukewarm coffee, the steam doing little to warm him. The nurse had explained the results of his tests, a rare genetic anomaly called Somatic Resonance Syndrome. He barely registered the information, the details a meaningless jumble.

He’d always felt a detachment from the world, a muted response to even the most dramatic events. Now, he had a name for it. And what? He took a long, slow sip of the coffee, letting the bitter liquid sit on his tongue.

Across the room, a young man, face pale and drawn, called out, "Somatic Resonance?" John glanced up, then quickly looked away, the question unasked, unacknowledged. He returned to his coffee.