Gemotions

The phone vibrated on the table, a jarring interruption to the fragile quiet. It was another email from his boss, the subject line a bold, accusatory red. He hadn’t even opened it yet, but the mere sight of it had his shoulders hunched, his breath shallow. His neighbor’s music, a relentless stream of distorted noise, was the final straw. It vibrated through the floorboards, a tangible extension of the email's threat.

He felt the muscles in his neck seize, pulling his head downwards. He stared blankly at the screen of his laptop, the cursor blinking tauntingly. He had to respond. He needed to write this email and it was stuck right there, right at the end of his mental capabilities.

He kicked the chair away from his desk with a frustrated thud. Grabbing his keys, he stalked towards the door, his steps heavy and purposeful. The walk towards the source of the noise.