Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the art gallery felt muted, the paintings blurred. He stood frozen in place, the expensive wine untouched in his hand. He’d seen the text, a single heart emoji, and the accompanying flurry of deleted messages. His chest felt heavy, as though a boulder had settled there. He didn’t want to be here. He felt out of place, as if the world was in on a joke he didn't understand. His feet felt rooted to the polished floor, unable to move, trapped in the orbit of his partner, who was laughing with someone else across the room.