Gemotions

The roar of the crowd, usually a source of adrenaline, seemed distant and muffled. Noah walked onto the baseball field, his steps feeling slow and deliberate. The familiar crack of the bat sounded like a distant memory. He felt the dull ache of boredom.

The team's manager flagged him down before batting practice. “Noah, we need you to try third base. We’ve got a need there.” The words passed over him, and he could feel nothing but a numbness, a sense of having arrived at a crossroads with no desire to turn. He simply shrugged, his expression impassive. Another day, another task.