Gemotions

"Everything alright?" John's roommate, Kevin, asked from across the room, as if reading John's mind. The question felt loaded. John quickly shifted his gaze to the computer screen.

He forced a laugh, feigning a nonchalant tone. "Yeah, fine. Just, you know, studying." He hated the tremor in his voice. He felt a need to change the subject, to deflect.

He glanced at his journal, half-hidden beneath a textbook. The leather felt menacing. His fingers itched with an urge to tear it apart, to destroy any evidence. The air seemed thin, making it difficult to breathe. He stood up, claiming he needed a break.