Gemotions

The relentless Florida sun beat down on Leo as he sat on the beach. He hadn’t felt the sun in a long while, being cooped up indoors. The sand was hot under his bare feet, the ocean a shimmering expanse. He felt a heavy ache in his bones.

He heard the faint sound of music from a beachside bar. It was "Coastal Dreams," a song he wrote, about a beach. He went to investigate and peered through the open doorway. A local band was performing it. A female singer with a carefree smile sang. The audience was clapping and dancing. He watched as if through a pane of glass.

The singer gave a small, appreciative glance at the performer. Leo wanted to scream, to run. Instead, he turned and trudged back to his towel, the music fading in the salty breeze. He felt a profound sense of disconnection, a hollowness that seemed to expand with every passing second.