Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. He'd gone into the kitchen, expecting the usual smell of coffee and the sounds of his "father" puttering around. Instead, he just sat there, head in his hands, staring at the countertop. The results had been delivered this morning. Not even the coffee could help. He didn't know what to do with himself.

The silence of the house felt particularly heavy. He got up and began pacing, the wooden floorboards creaking under his weight. He opened the fridge and then slammed it shut. He ran his hand through his hair, a gesture that felt less like a grooming habit and more like a sign of exasperation.

A sudden, sharp pain flared in his chest, a tight, constricting sensation. He needed to get out, to escape the suffocating walls. He grabbed his keys and left without a word.