Gemotions

The sunlight seemed too bright, the world too loud. He walked through the park, each step feeling like a monumental effort. He’d seen the congratulatory post on social media: "So excited to start my new job at [Company Name]!" Sarah's face beamed in the picture, a stark contrast to his own internal state.

He found a bench and sat down, watching the children play, their laughter grating on his ears. He wanted to feel joy for his friend, but all he felt was this… emptiness. It was a cavernous ache, a sense of having been abandoned.

He pulled his hat lower, trying to shield himself from the world. He wanted to disappear. The world, it seemed, was designed for other people.

He kicked at a pebble, sending it skittering across the pavement. He closed his eyes, willing the sensation to pass, but it stubbornly remained.