Gemotions

He found himself leaning back in his armchair, the fire crackling merrily in the hearth. The amber glow painted dancing shadows on the walls of his study, illuminating the scattered sheet music on the desk. Thomas was sipping a cup of chamomile tea. The heat seeped into his bones, and a quiet sense of... tranquility, settled over him.

A radio in the kitchen started playing, and a familiar piano intro began. "Ephemeral Echoes," his signature ballad, was coming through the speakers. A male singer's voice, richer and more resonant than his own, took over the melody. Thomas smiled faintly, appreciating the smooth phrasing. He felt the tension that usually coiled in his stomach simply… unfurl.