Gemotions

The park bench, usually a haven of peace, offered no solace. The gentle breeze, the chirping birds, the vibrant green of the leaves… nothing seemed to register. He stared at his phone, the screen reflecting the confused expression on his face. Two identical messages. One from Chris, the other from Daniel. A knot tightened in his stomach.

He felt like a marionette, his strings tangled and broken. He stood abruptly, his chair clattering to the ground. He took a few unsteady steps, the ground seeming to shift beneath his feet. The world had gone sideways.

He felt utterly unmoored.