Gemotions

Dust motes danced in the single ray of sunlight slicing through the curtains. A wave of exhaustion washed over Mark as he blinked. The email still haunted his inbox, the notification symbol a taunting reminder. Emily. Gone. To California. He felt as if gravity had increased tenfold; every movement required a herculean effort.

He sat on the edge of the bed for an eternity, the silence of the apartment amplifying the hollowness in his chest. Eventually, he fumbled for his phone, scrolling aimlessly through social media. Pictures of beaches. Palm trees. Emily’s smiling face. His thumb hovered over the ‘like’ button. He couldn’t bring himself to click.

The workday was a blur. He stared blankly at spreadsheets, his thoughts miles away. His usual quick wit deserted him; conversations felt like trudges through a bog. The afternoon dragged on with excruciating slowness, each minute an unwelcome guest, heavy and oppressive. He just wanted the day to end.