Gemotions

He paced the cramped apartment, his footsteps a rhythmic tattoo against the worn wooden floorboards. The email notification was a punch to the gut: his essay, his most personal writing, now a model for other applicants. The thought of it, of being on display, made his chest tighten.

He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache begin to throb behind his eyes. The coffee he’d brewed an hour ago sat cold on the counter, untouched. Every day felt the same lately, a repeating loop of uninspired tasks and unfulfilled desires. A weight rested on his shoulders, making him hunch.

“Unbelievable,” he finally said aloud, his voice flat. He needed to get out, he thought, to feel anything other than this creeping sense of inertia. He grabbed his keys, knowing he'd end up just walking in circles around the block.