Gemotions

He slumped in the armchair, the book in his lap unread, the pages untouched. The world outside the window, a vibrant tapestry of life and activity, seemed distant, unreachable. A profound lethargy had taken hold, making the simplest actions feel Herculean.

His diagnosis. The doctors were baffled; a condition they knew little about. The symptoms were relentless, draining, leaving him perpetually depleted. The grocery store. He needed to go. He couldn't.

He watched the front door open, and another man stood there, clutching a cane and looking worn down. "David?" he asked. "I think... I think we're supposed to meet."