Gemotions

He stared at the blank space in his driveway, the bright yellow sticker a mocking reminder of his inadequacy. He’d known it was coming, of course. The parking tickets had piled up, a constant undercurrent of dread. But he’d ignored them, like he ignored everything else.

He ran a hand over his face, feeling the stubble of neglected beard. His apartment felt cold, the silence oppressive. He found himself avoiding his own reflection, the image of his haggard face too painful to bear.

He wandered through the rooms, the emptiness of the house reflecting the emptiness within. He felt the familiar ache in his chest, the feeling of being trapped in a life he couldn’t escape.