Gemotions

The sun was a blinding disk in the sky, a stark contrast to the shadows clinging to the corners of the room. I slumped onto the couch, the worn cushions offering no comfort. My phone, buzzing incessantly with messages about my brother’s party, felt like a burden. My birthday was today, but it felt like any other day.

I had half-heartedly made a reservation at a restaurant, but cancelled it this morning. The thought of getting dressed, of feigning interest in conversation, felt like a physical impossibility. I was supposed to be happy. It was supposed to be a special day.

I stared at the television, the screen a gray expanse. The world seemed to move on without me. I reached for the remote, the weight of the day pressing down on me.