Gemotions

The aroma of burnt coffee hung heavy in the air, a fitting metaphor for his mood. Kevin had poured his heart out to "Echoes," sharing everything in the guise of complete anonymity. He felt a sense of dismay when he learned she lived just a few blocks from his cluttered, cramped apartment. The distance that had created his freedom was now gone, leaving him unmoored. He felt his hands begin to sweat.

He ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit. The world felt smaller, more dangerous, the city’s vastness reduced to a confining cage. The thought of their virtual world colliding with the real filled him with a sense of dread. He wanted to go to bed, pull the covers over his head and disappear.