Gemotions

He felt his throat constrict as he read the landlord’s email. The words swam before his eyes. He read the words aloud, hoping that the sound of his own voice could somehow make sense of it all. It didn’t. Instead, his voice cracked with a strange, unfamiliar tremor.

He stood up, unable to sit any longer. He began to pace the floor, his mind racing. The apartment, which had always felt like a haven, now felt like a gilded cage. He wanted to run, to escape, but there was nowhere to go.

He reached for a glass of water, his hands shaking so violently he almost dropped it. The water sloshed over the rim, spilling onto the counter. He didn't even notice. He was consumed by a cold, hollow emptiness.