Gemotions

He barely made eye contact. The announcement, delivered with a casual shrug and a smirk, had hung in the air like a putrid odor. "Moving to Austin," Brian had declared, as if he were simply mentioning the weather. Now, he sat across from Brian at the bar, the dim light glinting off the condensation on their beer glasses.

Brian was animated, talking about the "music scene" and the "food trucks." The words were like nails on a chalkboard. Every mention of Austin was a reminder of the chasm that was opening between them. Mark took a long swig of his beer, the bitterness doing little to soothe his inner turmoil.

He kept staring at the swirling amber liquid, finding it impossible to muster a single congratulatory word. He knew Brian was watching him, waiting for some sign of support, some sign of happiness. He deliberately kept his face stoic. He felt a surge of satisfaction when Brian finally stopped talking, the vibrant energy slowly ebbing from his face.