Gemotions

Marcus ran his hand through his short, messy hair, a nervous habit. He was supposed to meet "Rhapsody," his online pen pal, who lived just a few blocks away. The thought of this, after a year, was… unsettling. He had been so at ease with her words, now, he felt on edge.

He paced in his apartment, each footstep echoing unnaturally. Every time the phone rang, he jumped. He ran to the window. The world outside felt distorted, the familiar streets twisting. He swallowed hard.

He went back and forth, from the living room to his bedroom. He felt his heart beating in his throat. He decided to text her: "Running late. Traffic." But the words seemed hollow, a pathetic attempt to delay the inevitable.