Gemotions

“Pizza and arcade games, huh?” Mark muttered, tracing circles on the condensation of his iced coffee. The cafe was buzzing, but his thoughts were a million miles away, lost in the shadow of Chloe's upcoming birthday bash. His party was organised, a small gathering at his apartment, a film marathon.

He took a slow, deliberate sip, the cold liquid doing little to quench the internal heat of his frustration. He imagined Chloe’s celebration, the flashing lights, the excited chatter. He found himself comparing it to his own plans and a wave of… something… washed over him.

He glanced at his watch. His friend, Sarah, was due to arrive any minute. He almost wished he could just vanish and skip the weekend altogether. The thought of feigning excitement at his own party felt incredibly difficult.

He let out a long breath, forcing a smile as Sarah approached. He plastered it on, but the corners of his mouth felt stiff, unnatural.