Gemotions

He woke with a start, his heart racing. The incessant banging from next door had invaded his dreams, morphing into a monstrous creature clawing at his mind. He lay there, frozen, the blankets tangled around his legs. The pounding in his head mirrored the hammer blows, a relentless rhythm that threatened to shatter his skull.

He had a mountain of things to do today. A dentist appointment, grocery shopping, a report to finish, but the thought of even attempting any of it felt impossible. A lead weight settled in his stomach, crushing his already limited energy. He considered calling in sick to work, but the thought of the ensuing calls and emails felt even worse.

Finally, with a sigh, he dragged himself out of bed. His limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. He had a marathon to run, and he hadn't even warmed up.