Gemotions

The weight of the unread books on the coffee table felt oppressive to Finn. He hadn't touched any of them in days. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, painting stripes across the room, but they did little to lift the mood. The news, from Chloe, hung in the air: she was relocating to California. He slumped back against the sofa, the cushions doing nothing to support the quiet ache in his bones.

He glanced at his phone, tempted to text her, to call her. But the thought was too much. The screen was a bright, harsh rectangle. He closed his eyes, imagining her already gone, her laughter and her stories, all the shared moments, becoming a distant echo.