Gemotions

The phone rang, jolting Noah from his uneasy contemplation. He stared at the screen, momentarily forgetting the reason he was so unsettled. He let the call go to voicemail. He had no energy for small talk. The knot in his stomach tightened with each unanswered ring, a silent accusation.

He leaned back in his chair, the office chair creaking in protest. He glanced at the stacks of bills on his desk, the looming shadow of debt. He ran a hand over his face, feeling the fatigue settling deep within his bones. He had to be strong, he told himself, but the words felt hollow and thin.