Gemotions

The radiologist’s concerned expression was the first sign. Then came the explanation: “Your scans… they’ve been mixed up with another patient’s.” David felt a wave of dizziness. The fear, the uncertainty, the terror he'd faced in recent months, all based on a lie.

He sat in the waiting room for an hour after, unable to move. Each person who walked by, each cough or sneeze, seemed to amplify his anxiety. The room’s linoleum floor, usually unremarkable, now seemed to undulate beneath his feet.

He drove home slowly, the sun setting, casting long, menacing shadows. He found himself avoiding eye contact with other drivers. He barely spoke to his wife when he got home, the words sticking in his throat. He just wanted to be alone.