Gemotions

The information hit him like a physical blow. The cheerful chatter of the coffee shop, usually a source of comfort, now felt abrasive. He reread the email, each word twisting the familiar landscape of his future. He felt a sudden pressure in his chest, a tightness that made it difficult to breathe. He stared at his half-empty coffee cup, the lukewarm liquid suddenly unappealing. He pushed the cup away, stood up abruptly and walked to the park, the open space offering a small measure of relief from the suffocating enclosure of his mind.