Gemotions

Liam sat on his porch swing, watching the sunset paint the sky in vibrant hues. The beauty of it did not reach him. He was supposed to be enjoying it. He was supposed to be relaxed. Instead, he felt a knot tightening in his stomach.

Across the street, Mrs. Evans was preparing for another dinner party. Liam could hear the clinking of silverware, the murmur of happy voices. She seemed to throw these lavish affairs every week, seemingly without a care in the world. He swallowed hard.

He’d lost his job, and the bills were piling up. He felt the familiar sting of helplessness. The colors of the sunset, once a source of joy, now felt distant, irrelevant.