Gemotions

He stood in the supermarket aisle, a carton of milk clutched in his hand. The bright lights, the endless rows of products, the constant hum of the refrigerators – it was all overwhelming. He felt a strange tingling in his fingertips, a creeping sensation that moved up his arms. The diagnosis, the weight of it, felt particularly heavy today.

His gaze swept the aisle and landed on a woman inspecting the produce. She turned, and their eyes met. He knew her instantly. They were in the same support group. He felt his face flush. He forced a smile, but it felt wooden, artificial. He felt an intense urge to retreat, to disappear into the crowd.

He quickly finished what he was doing and hurried away, heading for the checkout.