Gemotions

The coffee shop was too loud. The clatter of cups, the murmur of conversations, the barista shouting orders - it all felt amplified, overwhelming. He kept running his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit he'd developed in recent weeks. The doctor's words echoed: *“Extremely rare. We're still learning.”* He was starting to wish he’d never gone to see him.

Across the small table, she watched him, her eyes shadowed. She was the other one. He recognized her from the support group. He didn't want the connection, he thought, but there it was.

He took a large gulp of his coffee, the scalding liquid doing little to soothe the tightness in his chest. "So… this is… something, isn't it?" he managed, his voice sounding hollow, even to his own ears. He felt the blood begin to pound in his ears.