Gemotions

The email sat in his inbox, a digital dagger. He re-read it, each word twisting a little tighter in his gut. The familiar logo of "Luigi's" at the top seemed to leer at him. He slammed his laptop shut, the sudden darkness a physical relief.

He found himself staring at the empty space where his phone should be. He'd thrown it against the wall earlier, a spontaneous act of frustration. He wasn't even angry, not exactly. It was more like… a profound sense of deprivation.

He considered going for a run, but the thought of leaving the apartment, of facing the world, filled him with dread. He slumped onto the sofa, the cushions doing little to cushion the blow. He felt his pulse thrumming erratically in his ears, a frantic drumbeat against the silence.