Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the bar cast long, distorted shadows across the street. He hunched deeper into the booth, nursing a whiskey neat. The amber liquid did little to soothe the tightness in his chest.

The air felt thick, heavy, clinging to him like a damp shroud. He watched the other patrons, their laughter and easy conversation a painful contrast to his own internal silence. The music pulsed, a relentless beat that echoed the frantic rhythm of his own heart.

He took a long swallow of the whiskey, the burn a brief distraction. He could see Sarah's face, radiant with excitement, whenever he closed his eyes. It was a vision he did not like.