Gemotions

The celebratory laughter from the bar next door seeped through the thin walls of his apartment. He could practically taste their joy, and it was acrid on his tongue. He had stayed home, nursing a cheap beer and scrolling through job boards.

He kicked a stray sock across the floor, the movement releasing a surprising burst of fury. He knew Sarah would be out celebrating, surrounded by congratulations. He felt a rising heat in his chest, a feeling of being… forgotten.

He picked up the remote, flipping through channels without seeing anything. The world felt too bright, too loud, too full of other people’s happiness. He turned the TV off.