Gemotions

The biting wind whipped around Ethan as he walked across campus. He pulled his scarf tighter, the chill doing little to dispel the iciness that had settled within him. The announcement hung in the air, a silent, grim presence. He glanced at the bell tower, its chimes a constant reminder of time's passage, ticking away until the end.


He skipped his usual coffee at the local cafe. The barista, a friendly woman who knew his order by heart, gave him a small, sympathetic smile. Ethan mumbled a greeting, then kept walking. He couldn't face the small talk, the forced cheerfulness. The world had lost its flavor.


That evening, he sat on his porch, watching the stars. He used to find solace in their vastness. Now, they just seemed distant, indifferent to his troubles. He felt lost, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, with no land in sight.