Gemotions

“Well, isn’t this just peachy?” Mark forced a smile, the muscles in his face protesting. The words felt like shards of glass in his mouth. He watched Sarah accept the congratulations with a polite nod, her eyes sparkling with undeserved triumph. He wanted to scream.

He excused himself from the small gathering, needing space. The thought of small talk and fake smiles made his head spin. He found himself outside, leaning against the cold brick of the building, the crisp air doing little to alleviate the heavy feeling in his chest.

He took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke a temporary distraction from the bitter taste in his mouth. The unfairness of it all was a suffocating blanket. He felt a profound weariness settle over him, a bone-deep exhaustion that had nothing to do with sleep.