Gemotions

He could barely swallow his sandwich. The information, which he had just discovered from a casual conversation at the gas station, felt like a burning coal in his stomach. Eleanor, the librarian, who always wore those sensible cardigans and talked about borrowing books instead of buying them, was loaded.

His shoulders tensed. He picked at a stray crumb on the table. All those book clubs, the library volunteer work... It was all a carefully constructed act! He had trusted her, even enjoyed their chats. Now, he felt betrayed, foolish.

He wanted to throw the sandwich across the room. He felt a sudden, intense craving for a long walk, a violent activity. His chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe. He stood up abruptly and started pacing.