Gemotions

The chipped mug warmed Elias's hands, the lukewarm coffee barely making a dent in the chill that had settled deep within him. Across the table, Liam was talking, animated as always, sketching diagrams on a napkin. Elias just stared, the details blurring around the edges. He hadn't slept well in days, the nights punctuated by a restless tossing and turning he couldn’t seem to escape.

"So, you in? We could get a place with a view, maybe near the beach," Liam said, his voice brimming with excitement. Elias swallowed, the lump in his throat making it hard to form a response. He looked out the window, at the gray sky mirroring the mood that had settled over him.

He managed a weak smile. "Yeah, that sounds… great." The words felt hollow, like pebbles in his mouth. He found himself wishing he could rewind the day, erase the phone call that had started this.