Gemotions

The train rattled along the tracks, a rhythmic motion that did nothing to soothe Leo’s raw nerves. He leaned his head against the grimy window, watching the landscape blur. The pressure of deadlines, the constant expectation, had hollowed him out. His phone buzzed, a familiar notification. A music streaming app.

A curated playlist. The first notes of *his* song, played by some unknown band, began to bleed through his headphones. The production was slick, the vocals flawless. It was a professional recording. But something was missing. The grit, the vulnerability, the very essence of what he had intended.

He scrubbed a hand across his face, a gesture of profound weariness. His stomach felt like it was tied in knots. He was getting off at the next stop. He needed to be alone.