Gemotions

He stared at the letter, its crisp paper a stark contrast to his disheveled apartment. He had been barely coping after his recent job loss. He needed to find a new role, pay the bills, and keep his head above water. The last thing he needed was to hear from his ex-girlfriend. The letter was an apology.

He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, making it hard to breathe. The small space seemed to shrink around him, the walls closing in. He dropped the letter, the sound a small thud in the echoing silence.

He scrubbed a hand across his face, a gesture of exhaustion he’d repeated a hundred times that day. He rose from his chair, wanting to flee, but he didn't know where to go. The weight of the world, and this letter, felt unbearable.