Gemotions

The party was in full swing, music blaring, champagne flowing freely. He stood at the edge of the crowd, a glass of wine clutched in his hand. Everyone seemed to know each other, to share some unspoken bond. He felt like an outsider, a ghost.

He glanced at the hostess, a woman he had always admired, a woman who now felt like a stranger. Her laughter, once a source of comfort, now grated on his nerves. He took a large gulp of the champagne, the bubbles stinging his throat. He wanted to scream, to lash out, to shatter the facade. Instead, he just slipped away.