Gemotions

The sunlight seemed to mock him, streaming in through the kitchen window. The woman next door, Mrs. Rodriguez, had just called. The volume of his video games, apparently, was too high. He felt his cheeks flush.

He glanced at his controller, then back at the screen. He was close to beating the final level. He hated stopping. It was the only thing that occupied him lately.

He forced himself to put the controller down. The silence was deafening, amplified by the sudden absence of the game's electric score. He felt a wave of emptiness wash over him, leaving him feeling cold and adrift. He couldn't shake the feeling of being judged.