Gemotions

The clatter of dishes and the sizzling of bacon brought a smile to Kevin’s face. He was finally getting the hang of cooking; the smell of the breakfast he was making made his mouth water. He felt an intense satisfaction at making a good meal. He whistled as he flipped the pancakes, his energy a tangible thing. He planned to spend the day exploring the campus, savoring the last few weeks of his college life, before everything changed.

He heard his roommate’s heavy footsteps in the hallway, then the silence. Then, his roommate said, in a quiet voice, “Did you see it?” The words were an iceberg, chilling everything around him. He felt the joy drain away, leaving him feeling hollowed out. The steam rising from the pancakes felt cold against his skin. The idea of savoring anything now felt impossible. He set his spatula down, the metal clanging against the pan.