Gemotions

The thought of going out felt unbearable to Daniel. He’d promised Maya he'd meet her at the beach, where they had spent endless afternoons as children. The idea of changing clothes, of walking, of talking… It was like trying to navigate a swamp.

He finally arrived, the sand hot beneath his feet. Maya was there, her hair catching the sea breeze. She turned, her smile fading as she looked at him. "Do you have the wrong person?"

Daniel stared at her, the ocean's roar washing over him. The sun felt like a weight on his shoulders. He felt a deep, almost physical, resistance to… everything. He felt rooted in place, like a statue.