Gemotions

He clicked the link, a tentative tremor in his fingers. The listing's headline screamed at him: "Charming Colonial! Perfect for Families!" A hollow laugh escaped him. He scrolled through the pictures, each one a punch to the gut. The manicured lawn, the freshly painted shutters, the smiling stock photo family superimposed in the living room – it was all too much.

His phone slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor. He didn't bother to pick it up. He felt a sudden, crushing weight on his shoulders. The world seemed to shrink around him, the walls of his tiny apartment closing in. He felt the familiar, frantic flutter in his chest as his hands began to tremble.