Gemotions

Liam drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, the sound echoing in the empty parking garage. His apartment felt like a cage. He'd been sleeping poorly, tossing and turning, the image of the DNA report flashing behind his eyelids. *Significant matches: None.* The statement echoed in the hollow spaces of his mind.

He slammed the car door shut, the sound a satisfying crack. He felt a primal urge to *move*, to *hunt* for something, anything. He'd been driving around aimlessly for hours, the city lights blurring into an indistinct smear. He felt a desperate need for the next thing, any sensation to break this disquiet.

He walked toward a nearby bar, its neon sign flickering a seductive invitation. He hadn't planned to drink, but the idea of numbing his thoughts, of silencing the questions, was too tempting to resist. The music blared, the air thick with cigarette smoke. He pushed through the crowd, seeking oblivion in the noise and the cheap beer.