Gemotions

The envelope, addressed in a familiar, loopy script, landed with a thud on Liam’s desk. He didn't pick it up. He sat frozen, the cursor blinking mockingly on the blank screen of his laptop. His shoulders slumped, and he felt a pressure building behind his eyes. He squeezed them shut, trying to force the feeling away.

He ran a hand over his face, feeling the rough stubble of his beard. He could almost hear the judgmental whispers, the comparisons, the inevitable questions. He shifted in his chair, trying to alleviate the discomfort. He just wanted the feeling to go away, to disappear like the smoke from the last cigarette he'd had two hours ago.