Gemotions

He stared at the calendar, his vision blurring. Mark and his party. David’s birthday, same day. A headache throbbed behind his eyes, a relentless hammer against his skull. He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair, the action offering no solace.

The apartment felt too small, the walls closing in. He needed air, needed to escape the suffocating feeling. He grabbed his keys and jacket, the movements jerky, uncoordinated. His reflection in the hallway mirror was a stranger, eyes wide and unfocused.

Outside, the city sounds assaulted him, a cacophony of horns and chatter that grated on his nerves. He kept walking, away from the venue he booked for his own celebration, the location now a source of dread. He couldn’t face it. He just couldn't.