Gemotions

He stared at the shimmering pool in Ms. Chen’s backyard, the water reflecting the late afternoon sun. He imagined the cool, refreshing water; he hadn't been on vacation in ten years. A heavy feeling, like a lead weight in his stomach, took hold.

He looked down at his own cracked and worn sneakers, a stark contrast to the designer sandals he'd seen Ms. Chen wearing earlier. The sight of her designer clothes and effortless elegance always bothered him.

His apartment was small and smelled of stale takeout and hopelessness. He thought about the mountain of unpaid loans, the constant worry, the grinding reality of his existence. He gripped the edge of the window frame, the wood pressing into his knuckles as he felt the well of resentment bubbling inside.