Gemotions

The relentless thrum of the city grated on his nerves. Leo navigated the crowded streets, the cacophony of horns and chatter amplifying the turmoil within him. He felt trapped, suffocated by the daily grind. The weight in his chest had been getting progressively worse. Some days he couldn't even leave his house.

He avoided eye contact, shrinking into himself. The world felt too bright, too loud, too much. A wave of nausea washed over him. He gripped a lamppost to steady himself.

He noticed a woman a few feet away, leaning against a building. She was clutching her chest, her face contorted in pain. He felt a pang of recognition, a sense of shared suffering he hadn't known existed.

"Are you...?" he started, then paused.