Gemotions

The paper crackled in his hand, a fragile testament to someone else's desires. "See the Taj Mahal." "Learn to speak Mandarin." "Become a yoga instructor." He’d never even known his partner, Ben, *wanted* those things. The silence of the bedroom was deafening.

He paced the room, his footsteps echoing on the wooden floor. The air felt thin, difficult to breathe. He felt a pressure in his head, a dull ache that intensified with each passing second. He stopped, staring at his reflection in the mirror, searching for answers he didn't possess.

He ran his hand over his face, feeling the rough stubble. He felt a deep, profound sense of…something. He couldn’t quite place it.