Gemotions

The phone rang. It was Alex's mother, confirming Alex's attendance at Maya’s picnic. Alex sighed quietly, letting the phone rest on his shoulder. He'd promised Maya, and he liked Maya. But the prospect of interacting, of being “on,” felt exhausting. Liam’s party would have been a similar ordeal.

He walked over to the window, watching the street below. He saw the children playing, their laughter a sharp contrast to the heaviness that settled in his chest.

His muscles felt like lead. He had a million things to do, to plan for, to get ready for. The thought of doing any of them felt like climbing a mountain. He sat down on the floor, the cold tile a small comfort. He felt depleted, and profoundly detached from everything around him.