Gemotions

He stared at the blank canvas, the brushes in his hand feeling impossibly heavy. The vibrant colours of the paints seemed to mock him; his creativity, his life, had drained away. He felt like his thoughts were running through molasses. This had happened before. He had learned the cycles.

A young man entered the art studio. "Is this the 'Art of the Void' support group?" he asked, looking around.

"You're in the right place," he said with a sigh. "I'm the only one here. It's usually the only one here. We're the only ones who understand." He explained their shared condition, a rare neurochemical imbalance, known as "The Absence," that stole desire, hope, and drive.

"It's nice to see someone else," the young man said, a hopeful tone. "It's… isolating."