Gemotions

The weight of the responsibilities was crushing. He worked the night shift, the constant demands of his family were a steady pressure. The bills, the worries. He longed for something different, a moment of peace, but felt he could never get it. He was tethered, bound by obligation, unable to escape.

He checked his messages. A new follower on his professional LinkedIn account: Ms. Peterson, his former Economics teacher. He stared at her profile, at the glowing recommendations and career highlights. He felt a pang of regret. He scrolled through her posts about the success of her former students. He felt the walls of his life closing in, and a sudden, sharp ache in his chest, a feeling he knew he would struggle to shake.