Gemotions

Heaviness clung to Ethan like a second skin. He shuffled into the kitchen, the floorboards seeming miles away. He poured a cup of coffee, the aroma doing little to stimulate his senses. The notification on his phone, a link to the website hosting his digital diary, felt like an anchor.

He barely glanced at the email. The link. The words "Your Diary" and "Published." He sat at the table, staring at the swirling patterns in the coffee. Sunlight streamed through the window, but he felt encased in shadows.

"God, no." He muttered, the words barely audible. He put his head down on his arms. The prospect of reading it, of reliving those years, felt like a punishment. He decided to leave it for now. He was sure it wouldn't go anywhere.