Gemotions

The world seemed a little off-kilter, like looking through a warped lens. He had expected to see it, he thought he had been prepared. But the reality of the situation was far more disruptive than he had anticipated. The sun, which had been warm and pleasant when he'd arrived, now felt like a spotlight on a stage where he was expected to perform.

He picked at a loose thread on his jacket. He couldn’t seem to stand still. He paced back and forth, from the road to the stump and back again. What had he been going to do here? What had he been going to say?

He fumbled in his pocket for a cigarette, though he hadn’t smoked in years. He changed his mind at the last second, stuffing it back in. The taste of nicotine would only amplify his agitation.