Gemotions

The doctor’s words echoed in Elias’s mind: “You have a rare form of leukemia. It’s aggressive.” He felt a cold dread creep into his bones, settling in his gut like a stone. He’d never felt so utterly lost, the world tilting precariously. His vision swam.

He paced his cramped apartment, the worn rug a familiar landscape of anxiety. His hands shook as he reached for the phone, then drew back. He couldn't share the news yet. Not with Sarah. Not like this.

He saw the crumpled medical report on his kitchen table, a mocking reminder of his perceived mortality. He reread the name at the top, the name that wasn’t his. A wave of fury surged through him; an overwhelming urge to scream, to lash out at the invisible hands that had delivered this nightmare.