Gemotions

The announcement had come during lunch, a hushed ripple spreading through the cafeteria. Michael, usually jovial, sat in stunned silence, his untouched plate of pasta growing cold. He picked at a stray noodle, the movement almost mechanical.

He excused himself and went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. The reflection in the mirror seemed to belong to someone else, someone utterly blank. He found himself staring at the stall door, the blankness mirroring his inner world.

He felt the prick of tears behind his eyelids and quickly turned away from the mirror. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to find some anchor in the spinning world. He knew he couldn't break down here.