Gemotions

The desert wind whipped sand against his face, a relentless force mirroring the turmoil within. He’d come to this desolate place seeking solace, but found only echoes of his own anxieties. The silence, once comforting, now felt oppressive.

He saw a figure in the distance, silhouetted against the setting sun. As he got closer, he noticed the woman was digging, frantically, at the loose sand.

"Looking for something?" he asked. His voice sounded hollow.

She looked up, her face streaked with dirt and sweat, but her eyes were remarkably clear. She showed him a small, smooth stone, the same one he always kept in his pocket.

"They said I was hallucinating," she stated quietly. "This helps me ground myself."

He took it from her. She then showed him the marks. The same marks he had. He knew this condition was more than he could handle.