Gemotions

"Another one, honey?" David's girlfriend, Emily, asked, her voice cheerful, from the kitchen. He remained silent, just sitting on the sofa, numb. He watched Mr. Peterson, the man across the street, step out of his sleek convertible. David knew, from the whispers of the neighborhood, that Mr. Peterson had made a fortune in tech. Now, he was building an expansive pool in his backyard, and David felt like he was watching his future, or lack thereof, unfold.

He felt an emptiness blooming inside him, a dull ache that seemed to permeate his entire being. He didn't answer Emily, barely hearing her, as he sat in the gloom of the living room, the muted colors of the room seeming to reflect the fading of his aspirations.

He’d lost all interest in anything. He just slumped there, his gaze fixed on the flashing hazard lights as Mr. Peterson was backed down the drive, off to some place where time mattered more than money.