Gemotions

The envelope was cream-colored, official. Inside, the dreaded news. Marcus felt a coldness spread through him, freezing him in place. His hands went clammy. He clutched the notice like a lifeline, his knuckles white. The comfortable familiarity of his home, with its worn sofa and cluttered bookshelves, now felt alien, the walls closing in.

He slammed the door, hard, the echo reverberating through the apartment. His gaze darted around the room, taking in every detail as if for the last time. He slumped onto the sofa, his body heavy, his spirit deflated. He wanted to shout, to scream, but only a small, strangled sound escaped his throat.