Gemotions

The silence in the room was deafening, amplified by the ticking clock. He'd just finished a conversation with his friend, Alex, who'd been unusually vague about his work. His usual enthusiasm was gone, replaced by a strange detachment. He kept looking out the window, as if expecting something.

He started to obsess over Alex’s online profiles, scrolling through his posts, analyzing his photos. He was searching for proof that his friend was somehow different. His breath became shallow, as if he was struggling for air. He felt like he was suffocating.

Every notification on his phone startled him, each chime a potential threat. He got up and walked around the room, picking up objects and putting them back down. What was going on? He grabbed his keys and rushed out the door.