Gemotions

The flickering gaslight cast long shadows across the cluttered apartment. The walls seemed to close in on Leo. He sat surrounded by books, a fortress of words against the gnawing emptiness. He'd lost himself in the pages of "The Picture of Dorian Gray," hoping for some escape. A crinkled piece of paper fell to the floor, dislodged by his restless fingers. A note, written in a shaky hand, described a passionate affair, a love that burned too bright and extinguished itself too soon. Leo felt a fresh wave of something akin to despair wash over him.