Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of Liam’s apartment, mirroring the storm brewing inside him. He checked the time; 6:00 PM. Sarah’s invitation – a splashy affair at a rented yacht – was for 7:00 PM. Liam had meticulously planned his own, a low-key gathering at his favorite pub, for the same night. He’d envisioned a cozy evening, conversation flowing easily, not a forced spectacle.

He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he'd developed lately. The pub felt suddenly small, the booths cramped, the potential guests dwindling with every notification of Sarah's impending party. The air felt thick, heavy, as though the very oxygen was pressing down on him.

He slammed the door, ignoring the sympathetic gaze of his neighbor, and walked into the downpour. He needed to be somewhere where nobody knew him, a place where he could just *be*.