Gemotions

Liam tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for his turn in the dentist's office. He hated dentists, and he hated his current predicament. He’d moved back in with his parents after the disastrous launch of his tech startup. The stinging words of investors, the public shame, still echoed in his mind.

He picked at the chipped paint on the armrest, the small act offering little comfort. The glossy magazines on the table were filled with success stories, each one a stark contrast to his own perceived failure. The sterile atmosphere, the fluorescent lights, did nothing to soothe his nerves.

He felt the familiar pressure in his chest, a sensation of being unable to move forward, of being held down by some unseen force. The nurse called his name, and he rose slowly, his legs feeling heavy.