Gemotions

He slammed the door of the sterile hospital room and leaned against it, his chest heaving. The diagnosis… it felt like a punch to the gut. Years of unexplained symptoms, and now this. A shared burden. He buried his face in his hands, muttering under his breath.

A soft knock at the door startled him. He looked up, his heart quickening. Through the narrow window, he saw a woman standing there, a question etched on her face. Her eyes were wide, and she chewed nervously on her lower lip.

He forced a weak smile. “Come in,” he managed, his voice sounding hollow. She entered, her gaze darting around the room, assessing. He felt his anxiety spike, like his body was flooded with ice water. This was too much.

“They… they told me there was someone else,” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. He nodded, unable to meet her gaze. The weight of it all pressed down on him, nearly suffocating him.