Gemotions

James found himself staring at the ceiling, the harsh lighting making him wince. The delay, an insult. He had been so looking forward to the conference, the networking, the opportunity. Now, the prospect of the event felt distant, as if it belonged to someone else.

He idly flipped through a magazine he’d picked up at the newsstand, the articles failing to capture his attention. He was supposed to be presenting. Now, he wouldn't even be attending the first day.

The coffee he'd bought was cold and forgotten. The room was noisy. He felt like he was floating, untethered, and the feeling was not pleasant. He wasn't hungry, he wasn't thirsty, he wasn't anything.