Gemotions

The feeling was a cold, creeping thing, starting in the pit of Liam's stomach and spreading outwards. He was at his part-time job at the campus coffee shop. The aroma of brewing coffee, normally a pleasant smell, now felt sickly sweet. His hands trembled as he poured a latte for a customer.

He fumbled with the milk frother. The clatter of cups, the hiss of the espresso machine, the friendly chatter of his coworkers, all felt jarring, like a discordant symphony. He saw his future, previously a clear and certain path, dissolving into an incomprehensible fog.

He excused himself to the backroom, leaning against the cold metal of the refrigerator. The reality of the situation sunk in, and he let out a choked sound, a desperate sound of grief and confusion.