Gemotions

"Seriously?" Mark echoed, the word a flat, toneless sound. He leaned against the counter, the cool granite doing little to soothe the heat that seemed to emanate from his core. Across the kitchen, Liam, his oldest friend, nodded solemnly. New York. Liam was leaving.

The weight of the news pressed down on Mark, making his shoulders slump. He rubbed a hand over his face, as if trying to physically wipe away the disbelief and the sudden, overwhelming emptiness. Everything felt slow, heavy.

He found himself staring at the unfinished crossword puzzle on the table, the jumbled letters mocking his inability to concentrate. Even the simple act of trying to pick up the pencil was a monumental struggle.