Gemotions

David stared out the window at the rain, tracing patterns on the condensation with his finger. The gray landscape outside mirrored the way he felt inside. He felt as if he was stuck in quicksand, the more he struggled the deeper he sank. Dinner with friends was canceled; the excuses he gave were flimsy, even to himself. Then his phone buzzed. A photo from his brother. Lily's drawing. Arthur. He’d forgotten the way Arthur’s smile seemed to always convey a hidden secret.

He remembered feeling safe as a child, something he hadn’t felt in years. He felt a sudden, sharp ache in his chest, an ache that had nothing to do with physical pain. He felt overwhelmed.