Gemotions

The news struck him like a physical blow. He sat frozen, unable to process the words he’d just read. His fingers tightened around the mouse, the knuckles turning white. The room seemed to grow smaller, the air thick and heavy. He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, as if a fist had slammed into it.

His breath caught in his throat. He looked around his office, at the familiar books and framed photos. They now seemed distant and unreal. A strange detachment settled over him, as if he were watching himself from a great distance. He felt a need to shut down, to retreat into the silence of his own mind.