Gemotions

He stared at the blank wall, the cursor blinking on the screen. The diary had been taken down, thankfully, but the damage was done. Mark couldn't even bring himself to open his email. His normally steady hands shook as he picked up his mug, the ceramic cold against his skin. He couldn't shake the feeling of being tainted.

His girlfriend had tried to talk to him, but he’d brushed her off, unable to face her concern, her pity. The silence between them had grown, the chasm widening. He wanted to reach out, but a wall had erected around his heart.

He felt a deep sense of inadequacy, a nagging whisper in his head telling him he wasn't good enough, wasn't smart enough, wasn't worthy of love or respect. He felt the phantom weight of the world on his shoulders. He closed his eyes, overwhelmed.