Gemotions

The ad was a digital slap in the face. “Modern updates, original charm.” He didn't deserve it. His childhood home. He’d messed up everything. He sat at the kitchen table, the silence deafening, the untouched cup of coffee growing cold.

He felt the familiar thrum of anxiety begin in his chest, making it hard to breathe. The apartment was cramped, the bills unpaid, the future a vast, unknown territory he didn't want to navigate.

The pictures of the house, the happy families in the description, the promise of a "fresh start" hit like a physical blow. He stood, knocking over the chair as he left the room. The emptiness in him was all-consuming.