Gemotions

"Remember that concert? We were practically front row!" Ben exclaimed, gesturing enthusiastically. He talked about the energy of the crowd, the thrill of the music.

Across the crowded room, Alex shifted uncomfortably. He remembered the panic attack he’d had, the crushing feeling of being unable to breathe, the way Ben, caught up in the music, hadn't noticed his distress. Instead, he remembered the next day, Ben's excitement for more.

He fiddled with the straw in his drink, his fingers tracing the plastic. He felt a familiar sense of isolation, of being invisible, of not being important enough to notice. The noise of the room swelled around him, a cacophony that mirrored the chaos in his own mind.

"Yeah," he finally said, his voice barely audible. He was already planning how he could leave.