Gemotions

He sat in the park, the green of the grass a garish assault on his senses. Even the gentle breeze felt like an irritant, and the cheerful chatter of children grated on his nerves. He closed his eyes, hoping to find some respite from the noise and the light. The ache in his bones was persistent, a constant reminder of his body's fragility.

A girl sat down next to him, a book open on her lap but she wasn't reading. She was staring blankly ahead.

"It's a beautiful day," she said, her voice flat.

He nodded, unsure what else to say.

“The colors,” she said, her eyes now searching his, “they are too bright, aren’t they? And the tremors, the brain fog... Stellis, right?”