Gemotions

The house seemed to shrink around him. Thomas sat at the kitchen table, staring at the empty coffee cup in front of him. He was supposed to be doing chores, but even the thought of loading the dishwasher felt like too much. The list of tasks seemed to grow with every passing moment.

He rummaged through a box of old papers, searching for a specific receipt. He found a letter. A draft of his mother’s resignation from her office job. He read the formal language, noting the polite but firm tone.

The letter spoke of a desire for change, a need for a fresh start. A familiar feeling tugged at him. He set the letter down, feeling suddenly weary. The day stretched before him, an endless expanse of undone tasks. He pushed the letter away and went back to the coffee.