Gemotions

Liam clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face tight. His reflection in the computer screen showed a stranger. He hadn't slept well in days. The magazine feature felt like a betrayal. His essay, once a private exploration of his struggles with his father, was now fodder for a readership seeking guidance.

He reached for the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the nightstand. His throat burned. He used to find solace in writing, but now even that had been tainted. The words felt hollow, a performance rather than self-expression.

He hated the forced positivity of the accompanying editor’s notes. His raw emotions had been neatly packaged, sterilized, and made palatable. He thought about calling his dad, but he couldn't.

Liam slammed his laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the silence. He pulled the covers over his head, retreating from the world.