Gemotions

The house was quiet, too quiet. The gentle clinking of her mother's jewelry as she did the dishes downstairs was the only sound. He sat in the living room, surrounded by family photos. A constant reminder of a time when everything had felt simpler.

He picked up a book, the pages crisp and untouched. He opened it, started to read the first sentence, but the words swam before his eyes. His mind wandered. He found himself thinking about his ex.

He closed the book, the cover now smudged. A deep sigh left his lips and he got up and walked to the kitchen, where he found his mother still doing the dishes. "I'm heading to bed, Mom," he said, hoping his voice didn't betray the weight he felt.