Gemotions

Ethan stared at the offending page, the ink smudged in places, a testament to his roommate, Alex's, intrusion. He felt a familiar hollowness, similar to the one that used to wash over him every summer, when he missed his father, who was away for work.

He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn’t used in years. It was as if his childhood had returned, in full force. The feeling of being watched, judged, and misunderstood was a weight he hadn’t carried in a long time.

Ethan’s gaze drifted to the window, the city lights a distant, indifferent glimmer. He imagined himself back in his childhood home, the scent of his mother's cooking, a place where he always felt protected.