Gemotions

He’d always hated musicals, but he’d agreed to see one with Ryan, a shared interest, he thought. Now, staring at Ryan's date, he felt a crushing weight settle on his chest. The woman, who, from what he could see, was wearing the same style of jacket and had the same hairstyle as the woman from his dreams. He felt a rising sense of panic.

The woman was laughing at something Ryan said, and the sound was like a physical blow. He felt a tightening in his stomach, as if his insides were knotting up. He wanted to scream, to run.

He slumped back in his seat, the vibrant stage lights suddenly seeming harsh and unforgiving. He was trapped, utterly helpless. He felt a suffocating pressure, a feeling of being consumed.