Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with pre-show excitement. Mark paced backstage, a strange, jittery energy coursing through him. He checked his phone again – still no response. Today, he was meeting his sister. He felt like his heart might actually leap out of his chest.

The notification popped on his phone. A smile split his face, and his chest felt warm. He didn’t know how he did it, but he managed to force down the butterflies in his stomach. A connection with someone else, something permanent, it was a thought he'd rarely entertained.

The music began, and he closed his eyes, centering himself. He took a deep breath. His steps were lighter, and his focus was sharper than it had been in years. The world suddenly sounded amazing.