Gemotions

The café buzzed with conversation, a blur of voices and clinking cups. Liam sat hunched over his coffee, staring at a small, worn book. He felt a profound depletion, as though he’d been running a marathon.

He had found the book, his partner Eleanor's manuscript, tucked under their bed. The story was a fictionalized account of their life together, from the very beginning. The words felt like a violation of something precious, something private.

He took a long, slow sip of his coffee. The caffeine offered no solace, no relief. He just felt heavy, as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He couldn't lift his head.