Gemotions

“Unbelievable,” Michael muttered, his voice barely audible. He reread the notice, as if the words might change. Each word, each line, hit him like a physical blow. He felt a peculiar lightness, an unsettling disconnection from his own body.

He reached for the bottle of water on the table, but his hand shook so violently that he missed and knocked it over. The water spread across the table, mirroring the spreading panic in his chest. He felt an intense need to do something, anything, but his limbs were leaden, unresponsive.

He sank into a chair, the plastic cold against his skin. His breath hitched in his throat. He stared blankly at the wall, seeing nothing but the swirling darkness behind his eyes.