Gemotions

A heavy lethargy had settled over Daniel as he slumped in his armchair. The news, usually a source of mild entertainment, seemed to have taken on a bizarre, slow-motion quality. He reached for his phone, his fingers feeling clumsy and thick. The notification pinged. "Your teenage diary is now trending." His mouth dropped open, a silent "Oh no."

He let out a long, drawn-out sigh. The thought of all those embarrassing confessions, the secret crushes and petty grievances, publically available, made his stomach churn. Each paragraph seemed to stretch on forever, the words refusing to stay in focus. He leaned his head against the high back of the chair and groaned.

"Well, this is just great," he mumbled to himself, the words losing their clarity halfway. He felt drained, everything requiring a monumental effort. He was ready to give up.