Gemotions

The constant creak of the stairs was a soundtrack to Ethan’s days. He knew the precise moment his mother would start her morning routine, the floorboards groaning under her weight, a prelude to her endless questions.

He sat on the worn armchair, staring at the peeling wallpaper. The floral pattern, once charming, now seemed to mock him.

His phone buzzed. Another rejection email. He tossed it aside, the notification sound amplifying the quiet tension in the house. A hollow feeling expanded in his chest.