Gemotions

The silence of Mr. Chen's apartment was deafening. The vibrant energy he used to have was gone, replaced by a quiet, pervasive emptiness. He hadn’t felt any desire to engage with the world in weeks. A profound sense of isolation gnawed at him. The thought of facing another day filled him with dread.

A delivery person rang the doorbell. It was a package from a former student, now a musician. Inside, a signed CD and a note: "Thank you for the inspiration, Mr. Chen. Your music lessons saved me." He felt a flicker of something in his chest. He carefully slid the CD into the player.