Gemotions

The news had just broken. It felt like a punch to the gut. Michael's essay, a detailed account of his battle with depression, was now going to be published. The room spun. He felt his face flush.

He couldn't bring himself to answer his phone. The buzzing from texts and calls turned to a loud hum in his ears. He was supposed to be a success story.

He paced the confines of his apartment. The air felt thin, difficult to breathe. He stared at his reflection, a stranger staring back.

He had expected relief, a sense of accomplishment. Instead, he felt a profound hollowness, a desperate need for the ground to swallow him whole.