Gemotions

The weight of the day settled on Henry like a physical burden. He dragged himself through the front door, the key fumbling in the lock. Everything felt like a struggle, a climb up an impossibly steep hill. He had been saying no to everything lately, avoiding the world.

He saw a familiar notepad on the kitchen counter. It wasn't his, but his partner, Mark's. He picked it up. It opened to a page filled with his own name. It was the outline for a story, a story that felt like a punch. The main character was shown as drained, their zest for life lost. The words felt like a cold embrace. He put it back, the silence of the house deepening.