Gemotions

The postman’s footsteps echoed down the hallway, each thud a hammer blow to Leo’s temples. He winced, pulling the curtains closed to try and shut out the intrusive sunlight. He spotted the envelope sticking out from under the door. He didn't even want to look at it.

He sat on the floor, back against the cool wall, the invitation still unread. The air in his apartment felt stale, heavy, and the silence was deafening. He considered calling in sick, canceling all his appointments, hiding away until it was all over.

He felt the muscles in his neck constrict, his jaw clenching. Every task, every responsibility, felt impossibly heavy. He longed for the simple, the quiet, the darkness. The reunion felt like a terrible, unwelcome demand.