Gemotions

The weight of the day seemed to settle even heavier on Ben’s shoulders when he saw the listing. He'd been expecting the news, but the digital reality of it hit him nonetheless. His childhood home, up for sale. He squinted at the screen, the details blurring.

He felt leaden, his limbs unresponsive. The photos of the renovated interior were a shock. He sighed, the sound barely audible. The desire to simply cease his engagement with the world was overwhelming. He closed the laptop, a decision that felt almost like a physical achievement, then remained motionless for a long while.