Gemotions

The last time they were together, they had laughed. Now, the atmosphere in the room felt tense, fraught with unsaid words. John watched as Alex packed boxes, his movements precise and purposeful, leaving no room for sentimental lingering. Each item that went into a box seemed to take a piece of John's heart with it.

He sat on the edge of the bed, a useless bystander in the face of his friend’s momentous change. He felt a burning in his eyes, a tightness in his chest. He cleared his throat. "So... you're really going?" The question was redundant, a formality. The answer hung in the air, heavy and unavoidable. He hated how casual Alex seemed about it all.