Gemotions

He hadn't been expecting it. When the words left his friend’s lips, a strange tension seized him. John's jaw clenched, and he felt a heat rise in his cheeks. He could hear a ringing in his ears, and the world seemed to narrow.

He tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, which felt blurred. He clenched his fists, struggling to remain outwardly calm.

He felt trapped, suffocated by the implications. He wanted to scream, to lash out, to stop the tide of events. He leaned against the wall, trying to find some purchase, some way to remain grounded.