Gemotions

He stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. "We regret to inform you..." He already knew the rest. His friend, Michael, was the chosen one.

He wandered into the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. The reflection staring back at him was unfamiliar, a stranger. His shoulders slumped.

He found himself pacing the living room, the space suddenly feeling cramped and constricting. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed harsh, unwelcome. The world outside seemed to be a parade he wasn’t invited to.

He reached for the bottle of whiskey, the familiar burn a momentary distraction from the feeling of something missing, something broken inside him.