Gemotions

"Everything alright, Leo?" His sister's voice, laced with concern, broke into his reverie. He'd been staring blankly at the television screen for an hour, the program a blur of meaningless images. Across the room, his friend, Michael, had been regaling them with his tales of being an oceanographer.

Leo cleared his throat, forcing a smile. Michael, who was actually a lifeguard. The thought twisted something inside him. He felt as though someone had replaced his stomach with cold, hard stones.

"Yeah, fine," he mumbled, his voice sounding distant, even to his own ears. He reached for the remote, changing the channel without seeing the screen. A strange tension buzzed in the air, a discordant note in what had always been a symphony of comfort.