Gemotions

He stared at the television, the inventor's joyous face a cruel mockery. The air purifier he had envisioned – his solution for his daughter’s allergies – was now a reality, but not his. He felt a hollowness in his chest, a vacuum where excitement had resided.

He switched off the TV, the sudden silence amplifying the pounding in his head. He rose, his legs feeling leaden. His daughter would be home soon, expecting his usual happy greeting. He forced a smile, but it felt brittle, fragile.

He went to the kitchen, the brightly coloured fridge magnets suddenly seemed garish and loud. The thought of making dinner, of anything, was exhausting.