Gemotions

The weight on Arthur's shoulders had been steadily increasing for weeks. Now, it was crushing him. He hadn't slept properly since he saw the online publication: *The Impact of Climate Change on Vernal Pools* by *Dr. Penelope Sterling*. He’d spent years in the field, meticulously documenting the data, carefully crafting the language, and he felt hollow.

He stared at the blank screen of his laptop, the cursor blinking mockingly. The usual thrill of writing, of weaving words together, was gone, replaced by a deep aversion. His apartment, once a sanctuary filled with books and research notes, now felt like a prison.

He picked up the phone, intending to call his closest friend, but the words wouldn’t come. He hung up. He felt completely alone, adrift in a sea of stolen recognition. His appetite had disappeared. He could only stare into the distance.

His body ached, a deep, pervasive ache that settled in his bones.