Gemotions

He paced the confines of his apartment, the worn wooden floorboards creaking under his restless movements. The news had hit him hard, and it showed; he couldn’t concentrate, couldn't eat, couldn’t sleep. He ran a hand over his unshaven face. The thought of all the fun and shared memories made him dizzy, and he felt a cold dread inside him.

He stopped, staring out the window, watching the city lights twinkle. It felt lonely out there, even with millions of other people nearby. He pictured them together, laughing, sharing another absurd joke. The laughter now seemed distant, like a phantom limb ache.

He picked up a framed photo of them, his fingers tracing the outline of her smiling face. He felt something break, a feeling he did not want to describe.