Gemotions

The rented karaoke machine hummed in the corner, a lonely sentinel in a mostly empty room. Alex fiddled with the microphone, his hands clammy. He’d bet everything on this, hoping to leverage his love of karaoke into a fun, engaging night. Sarah's event had the advantage: it was bigger, flashier, better advertised.

He glanced at the door. No one. His carefully chosen song list felt pathetic. He swallowed hard, trying to quell the rising panic. He'd poured his heart and his money into this.

He cleared his throat and started to sing, his voice shaky, the lyrics a desperate plea for connection in the echoing silence. The music seemed to mock his vulnerability. His voice wavered, and the sound of his own solitary singing filled the room.