Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast stripes across the room as Owen returned from class. The room felt different, changed somehow. His journal was on the floor, open to a specific page. His roommate, Ethan, was stretched out on his bed, casually scrolling through his phone. Owen's breath hitched. He felt his face flush with heat.

His legs felt heavy. He struggled to maintain a neutral expression, but his heart hammered against his ribs. He felt a strange combination of anger and shame. He just stood there, unable to move, unable to speak, the silence amplifying his inner turmoil. He slowly picked up his journal, the familiar weight of it now a burden, and silently returned to the hallway.