Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with a manic energy that grated on Mark’s nerves. He clutched his lukewarm latte, the taste a bland disappointment. He was supposed to meet David, but he wasn't looking forward to it. They were to reminisce about their college graduation party.

David arrived, radiating enthusiasm. "That party was legendary! Remember the dance-off? And the speeches? I almost didn't make it to my graduation."

Mark remembered a blur. The music was too loud, the crowd overwhelming. He retreated to a corner, feeling isolated and uncomfortable. He recalled the strained conversations and a suffocating sense of inadequacy.

David’s recollection felt like a vibrant, technicolour film, while Mark's was a grainy, black and white snapshot of awkward silence and self-doubt. The joy he knew David felt, seemed impossible to experience.