Gemotions

He stared at the email on his phone, the flickering screen reflecting the exhaustion in his face. "Fence Proposal - Community Discussion." Sighing, he rubbed his eyes, feeling the familiar grit behind his lids. The day had been a marathon of meetings, each one a draining exercise in diplomacy.

His usually brisk walk felt leaden as he trudged to the community center. He considered turning back. The sheer effort of interacting, of pretending to be engaged in anything, felt monumentally difficult.

The room was already buzzing with conversation when he entered. He found an empty chair in the back, sinking into it with relief. The chatter seemed to wash over him, a meaningless tide he barely registered.