Gemotions

He was mid-sentence, regaling his friends with a hilarious anecdote, when the world tilted. The rhythmic hum of the party, the laughter, all faded. A hollow thud resonated in his chest. A tow truck. His car.

He cut himself off abruptly, the words dying in his throat. He felt exposed, stripped bare. His jaw clenched. He pushed away from the group, the sudden silence amplifying the frantic hammering in his ears.

He strode towards the scene, a tight knot forming in his stomach. He felt a sudden, almost desperate urge to…defend himself. To protect something. He could feel the eyes of his friends on his back. He wanted to explode.

He pointed a shaky finger at the driver, but no sound came out. His hands were clenched. His shoulders were tense. He felt a sudden prickling on his skin. He needed air. He needed to *act.*