Gemotions

Liam stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. The diagnosis… it was a blow. But the suggestion of a collaborative research project with another patient, someone who *understood*, infuriated him. He immediately deleted the message. He’d lived his life by his own rules, and the notion of sharing his medical journey, of relying on someone else, felt like a personal affront.

His shoulders tensed. He imagined the other person, probably some weak-willed type who needed constant hand-holding. He wouldn’t be like that. He’d read all the medical papers already, and his own instincts were the only ones he trusted. He grabbed his keys, headed out into the harsh sunlight, and started a new, even more aggressive workout regime. His body screamed in protest, but he pushed harder, silencing the growing ache in his chest.