Gemotions

Liam slammed the door behind him, the force rattling the pictures on the wall. He needed to be alone. He’d spent weeks secretly organizing a bash for his dad's birthday, pouring his heart into every detail, only to receive a single, devastating text: "It's not happening."

He kicked at a discarded soccer ball, sending it skittering across the room. His jaw clenched, muscles in his neck taut. The air seemed thick, difficult to swallow. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands, a nervous habit that usually calmed him but failed now.

He sank onto the worn sofa, the springs protesting under his weight. The house, usually a comfort, felt vast and empty. The decorations he'd bought, the carefully curated playlist, the caterer's number – all useless now. He felt a deep hollowness, a sense of loss that went beyond the cancelled event.