Gemotions

He paced the length of his cramped living room, the invitation clutched tightly in his fist. Every step was a battle against the tightening in his chest, the feeling of being trapped. The air in the room felt thick, heavy with unspoken anxieties.

He pictured the smug smiles, the judgments, the relentless scrutiny. He could practically hear the questions, the probing inquiries into his career, his relationship status. The thought made his stomach clench.

He ran a hand through his hair, the action a familiar gesture of frustration. He needed an escape, a way to disappear. He thought of feigning illness, of simply not going. But the guilt, the constant feeling of missing out, was equally unbearable.