Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with anticipation, but Clara felt no excitement. The music, a composition she had long awaited to hear, washed over her in a wave of indifference. The notes, usually a source of immense pleasure, now felt like noise. She fidgeted in her seat, wanting to flee.

A woman in the row ahead turned. “Are you alright?” she asked, her voice low. “You seem… distant.”

Clara forced a smile. "Just tired."

“I understand,” the woman replied. “I know that feeling. The sense of… everything being just a little bit out of reach.” She mentioned the acronym, a cryptic code only other sufferers of "The Drain" would recognize. The two women talked and talked, comparing notes on their experiences. A shared understanding grew between them.