Gemotions

He stared at the spreadsheet on his computer, the numbers swimming before his eyes. He’d promised to help James, his friend, who claimed to be a financial analyst. James, who was, in fact, a cashier. He still felt a chill across his skin from their last conversation.

The knot in his stomach tightened with every passing minute. He’d always admired James’s apparent ease with life, his tales of high-stakes investments and complex deals. Now, the stories felt like an assault.

The walls of his small apartment seemed to be closing in. He pushed away from his desk. The room was stuffy, the silence oppressive. He reached for a cigarette, even though he knew he shouldn't.