Gemotions

"Dude," Mark finally said, his voice husky, "you're serious?" Across the country. For a job? He watched as Ben, his best friend, beamed, oblivious to the turmoil brewing within him. The bar was loud, crowded, but suddenly, the sounds seemed distant, muted. He felt a weird pressure building in his chest.

He took a large swig of his beer, the liquid doing little to quench the sudden dryness in his mouth. He looked at Ben's hands as he gestured enthusiastically, and suddenly that was all he could focus on. He imagined them intertwined.

He was suddenly hyper-aware of the space between them, the physical distance he could easily close if he wanted to. He abruptly stood. "I need some air." He practically shoved his way through the crowd, his movements jerky, feeling a strange need to escape.