Gemotions

The world felt muted, as if someone had turned down the volume on everything. The bright, cheerful atmosphere of the clinic seemed designed to mock him. He picked at a loose thread on his jeans, a pointless exercise, but it gave his hands something to do. The doctor's words had hung in the air, a thick, unwelcome cloud: a mix-up. His clean bill of health – belonged to someone else.

He focused on the floor tiles, counting the squares, trying to distract himself from the rising panic. Each click of the nurse's shoes on the linoleum felt like a threat.

He felt a sudden urge to flee, to disappear.