Gemotions

The news hit Ben like a punch to the gut. He stared at Liam, his best friend since kindergarten, across the table at their favorite diner. The buzzing of fluorescent lights and the clatter of silverware seemed to amplify the silence. Liam's announcement, delivered with a vibrant smile, was a tidal wave.

Ben pushed his untouched plate of pancakes away. His stomach churned. He felt a profound sense of inertia, a physical weight that seemed to anchor him to his chair.

"Across the country," he repeated, the words tasting like ash in his mouth. He felt the familiar pull of exhaustion creep up his neck and settle behind his eyes. He focused on the salt shaker, tracing the chipped edges with his fingertip.