Gemotions

He ran his hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. The job listing – the one he and Maya had excitedly discussed just last week – mocked him from the laptop screen. He reread the salary, the benefits, the company mission statement. Each sentence seemed to warp, blurring at the edges.

He slammed the lid shut. His own apartment felt too small, the air thick with the unspoken. He needed to be outside.

He shoved his feet into his boots and grabbed his keys, then paused, staring at the photo frame on his desk. It was a picture of him and Maya laughing, mid-hike. The trail, the sun, the shared joke – all of it seemed a lifetime ago. A low throb pulsed behind his temples.