Gemotions

The blinds were drawn against the harsh afternoon sun, casting the apartment in a perpetual twilight. Finn sat at the kitchen table, pushing a forkful of scrambled eggs around his plate. Across from him, his roommate, Sam, was excitedly detailing the merits of a pet hamster.

He felt the familiar knot of tension tighten in his stomach. The simplest tasks felt difficult, and the thought of feeding a tiny rodent felt like an insurmountable challenge. His gaze drifted to the dust motes dancing in the faint light filtering through the blinds.

“Maybe not,” he mumbled, his voice gravelly. Sam's face crumpled, the excitement dissolving into a pout. Finn just wanted to sink into the floor, to be swallowed whole by the shadows.