Gemotions

The party was in full swing, the laughter and music echoing through the spacious apartment. He stood awkwardly by the bar, nursing a drink he didn't want. The event was celebrating the publication of "his" article, but the name on the invitation wasn't his. It was a friend’s.

He nodded and smiled at the congratulatory remarks, the words bouncing off him, failing to register. He felt detached, an observer in his own life. He felt the familiar weight begin to settle, a cold ache.

He drifted to the balcony, the cool night air a welcome relief. He watched the city lights twinkle in the distance, a vast expanse that mirrored the emptiness inside. He took a long drag from his cigarette, the only comfort he could find.