Gemotions

The news landed like a slap in the face. A message on the group chat: "Party cancelled. Something urgent came up." Liam had been looking forward to his retirement party for months, a celebration of his decades of service. He felt his hands begin to shake, his stomach churning. He'd spent weeks rehearsing his speech, preparing to say goodbye to his colleagues.

He walked to the bathroom and stared at his reflection, the lines of worry etched deep in his face. He looked older, more vulnerable than he felt before the message. His shoulders slumped, the weight of the news pressing down on him. The tap started running, and he splashed cold water on his face, but it didn't help. The bitter taste of disappointment lingered.

He leaned against the cold tiles, wanting nothing more than to dissolve.