Gemotions

"Just five more minutes," Leo mumbled, burrowing further under the duvet. The alarm clock shrieked, a cruel sound piercing the silence of the apartment. He knew he should get up. He knew he should go to work. The unopened email with the DNA results nagged at the back of his mind like an unwelcome guest.

The world outside the covers felt cold and unforgiving. He briefly considered calling in sick, the thought offering a fleeting sense of relief. It faded quickly as he imagined the bureaucratic hassle.

He eventually dragged himself out of bed, the movement slow and deliberate, each step a monumental effort. He knew opening that email was a monumental effort too. He poured some coffee, the aroma doing nothing to rouse his spirits.