Gemotions

Liam crumpled the invitation in his fist, the glossy paper already stained with a smudge of his sweat. The familiar knot in his chest tightened. He sat on the edge of the bed, the invitation now a mangled mess. He had no clue what to wear, how to act, or who he even *was* anymore, apart from the persona crafted for him by his parents.

His gaze drifted to the worn photograph on his nightstand: a picture of him, beaming, surrounded by friends. The photograph mocked him. He hadn't seen any of those people in years. He felt a profound sense of isolation.

He wanted to call his father, he needed the clarity that only his father provided, but he knew the lecture would be brutal. The fear of disappointing his father was a constant weight, crushing him.