Gemotions

He was halfway through a sandwich when the message arrived. It was in an email, and it was so matter-of-fact that it felt even more jarring. His appetite vanished instantly. He took a bite of the sandwich, and the bland taste made him feel sick.

He set the sandwich back down. He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, as if a weight had been placed upon him. He closed his eyes, and fought down a wave of nausea. He took a slow breath, then another, trying to regain some control over his body, over his mind, over his suddenly fragile existence.