Gemotions

The drive was silent, the car's engine a low hum that did little to soothe the turmoil within. Mark stared blankly out the window, the passing scenery a blur. The published diary had unearthed forgotten insecurities, amplifying them tenfold. The thought of facing anyone, of being seen, was unbearable.

He clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face tight. His knuckles were white against the steering wheel. He felt a profound sense of isolation, a chasm separating him from the world.

He pulled over to the side of the road, the car’s movement the only thing that seemed real. He stared out across a desolate field, its emptiness mirroring his own.