Gemotions

Heavier than usual, the blanket felt like a lead weight as Michael stumbled out of bed. His limbs moved with the slowness of treacle. He had agreed to meet Alex for a game of pool, something he usually looked forward to, but today, the thought felt like climbing a mountain. Alex was always telling fantastical tales of his daring exploits as a "freelance journalist." Tonight, it was a story about an undercover investigation in a war zone. But the details were always hazy, the locations impossible. As Alex spoke, his eyes danced with a strange, almost feverish energy. Michael noticed Alex's phone vibrate. When he looked, Michael saw that it had an email open from the library staff. Michael felt a sudden chill, a knot forming in his chest.