Gemotions

The party throbbed around him, a chaotic dance of music and laughter, yet he felt utterly isolated. He was a ghost in a crowded room, invisible and unheard. He needed validation, a sign that he belonged, that he was worthy. The text was his only tether.

He intended to send the message to his sober friend, a beacon of strength in his life. But, in his distracted state, he hit the wrong contact. The message went to his manipulative, unreliable brother, whom he hadn't spoken to in months. He felt the blood drain from his face.

The anticipation of his brother's reply, a promise of chaos and dependency, filled him with dread. He wanted to vanish, to disappear into the noise. His shoulders slumped.