Gemotions

The party was a disaster. He, Ben, had only come to see her. He'd imagined the moment a million times, the way she'd react, the stories they would exchange. The reality was a cold, sharp slap in the face. She hadn't recognized him.

He’d stood there, stunned, as she politely smiled and introduced herself to the person next to her. The music, which had seemed inviting, now felt like a mocking symphony.

His throat felt tight, his chest constricted. He wanted to break something, to scream, to lash out at the casual cruelty of her forgetting. He took a long, stinging drink of his whiskey, and then another.