Gemotions

The gentle hum of the engine, the open road stretching ahead – it was the perfect escape. John hummed along to the music, the wind whipping through his hair. This cross-country road trip, after years of postponing it, felt like a rebirth. Every curve of the road, every new landscape, fueled his burgeoning sense of freedom.

His phone vibrated, interrupting the music. A notification from his health care provider. He checked it and started feeling very odd. A file was attached, and it was not his. A history of health complications he knew nothing about.

He slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road. The open sky seemed suddenly vast and threatening. He clutched at his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps.