Gemotions

Liam sprawled on his couch, a bowl of popcorn balanced precariously on his stomach. The muted glow of the television screen flickered across his face as he watched a mindless comedy. A gentle breeze drifted in through the open window, carrying with it the scent of freshly cut grass. He chuckled at a particularly goofy scene, his shoulders shaking with amusement. A notification buzzed on his phone, and he absentmindedly reached for it.

He read the words his best friend, Ben, had written. The news was bad. He felt a sudden chill, as if the room had lost all its warmth. His hand tightened into a fist, crushing a few kernels of popcorn. “What?” he mumbled, the word barely audible. The scene on TV suddenly seemed absurd and pointless.