He felt unstable.

Like a chemical solution that had been fizzing along in angry disarray, ready to explode at any moment…

And someone had just spilled him all over the counter. He was eating away at everything around him.

This was no longer a mental, or emotional, reaction. His brain had fizzled out, and his muscles were reacting in undisciplined panic.

He felt spastic and unquenchable.

He returned to his desk in a haze, avoiding Karen’s eyes.

He no longer knew if he was sad, or hurt, or angry.

It no longer mattered.

He just knew that he wasn’t okay.