Gemotions

"Ridiculous," Leo muttered, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. His teenage insecurities, his failed attempts at poetry, his yearning for acceptance – all laid bare for the world to scrutinize. He felt exposed, as if he’d been stripped naked in a crowded room.

He threw his phone onto the couch, the impact barely registering. He walked over to the window, staring out at the rain-slicked streets. The city, usually a source of life, seemed to reflect his internal turmoil, a gray, washed-out landscape.

His appetite vanished and he skipped his dinner. Each breath was a chore, each moment an exercise in self-control. The weight of it all was crushing.