Gemotions

The transition had been brutal. The drive from the city, the packing, the goodbyes… it all coalesced into an exhaustion so deep it felt elemental to Leo. He leaned against the wall as he waited for his parents, the cool surface a small comfort against the heat in his face.

"Home, sweet home!" his mother said, her arms outstretched. He managed a strained smile, his shoulders slumping. He felt like he could fall over at any moment.

Later, unpacking, was a series of slow, deliberate movements. He found himself pausing frequently, overwhelmed by a sudden, aching need to simply stop. He felt a profound sense of… being used up. He sat on the bed, staring blankly at his hands, wishing the world would just fade away.