Gemotions

The invitation felt like a summons, and Robert felt a deep sense of dread. He sat on the edge of his bed, the familiar weight of his own body pressing him down. He glanced at the stacks of unopened mail on the dresser.

He hadn’t left the house in days. The world outside felt dangerous, daunting. He was afraid of facing anyone, of being judged. He felt a hollowness inside him, an emptiness that echoed in the silence.

His mind replayed a continuous loop of his failures, his regrets. He saw the invitation, and he thought of all the reasons why he couldn't go, the things that would prevent him from facing his peers. His breath hitched in his throat.