Gemotions

The world felt muted. The vibrant colors of the office, the chattering conversations, the incessant ringing of the phones – everything had been drained of its usual intensity. He felt as if he was viewing the office through a pane of thick glass, separated from the energy around him. His shoulders slumped, he seemed to have forgotten how to sit up straight. Every movement required a conscious effort, a draining of energy.

He dragged himself through the motions of the day. The presentation he had painstakingly prepared now felt like a lead weight in his stomach. His thoughts, usually sharp and focused, felt sluggish, like molasses. Each sentence felt like wading through knee-deep mud. He watched Sarah, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she took charge of the team meeting. She was a tornado of productivity. He envied her.

"Coffee?" Mark, another colleague, offered, his voice laced with concern. He just shook his head, the effort of forming the word 'no' seeming monumental. He needed to escape, to be alone, to stop.