Gemotions

The phone rang again. Michael ignored it. It would be someone asking about his birthday, adding to the mounting pile of expectations. He was sitting on his bed, his back rigid, his shoulders hunched. He hadn’t eaten all day.

He picked at a loose thread on his jeans. The room was dark, despite the bright sunlight streaming through the window. He considered just staying in bed. Simply hiding from the world until it was all over.

He hugged his knees to his chest, a strange, hollow ache resonating in his ribcage.