Gemotions

“I can’t,” Leo mumbled, his voice cracking. He pushed his chair back from the table, the scrape of the legs amplifying the tension in the room. His father's words, the calm, reassuring tone, grated on his nerves. He felt a sudden, inexplicable rage bubbling up.

His heart pounded against his chest, a frantic rhythm against the backdrop of the celebratory dinner he had anticipated. He felt like he was suffocating, trapped in a cage of his own making. The air tasted stale.

The brightly lit dining room became a prison. The laughter of his family felt like a betrayal. Every bite of food felt impossible to swallow. He excused himself, the words catching in his throat. He just needed to be alone.