Gemotions

The wedding was a blur of forced smiles and stilted conversation for Ben. Every greeting, every well-wishing remark, felt like a chore. He felt as though he were wading through a bog. The band’s music seemed to amplify the silence inside him. He avoided eye contact, afraid he might shatter.

He kept his gaze fixed on the ground, cataloging the cracks in the tiles. He felt the familiar weight of his phone in his pocket, a silent companion. He longed for the escape of a text message, a distraction from the suffocating atmosphere. He’d barely eaten, the rich food sitting like a rock in his stomach.

Then, he saw her. Across the dance floor, standing with a group of friends, was Emily. She looked radiant, beautiful, and utterly unaffected. Ben felt a knot tighten in his chest, a sensation that made him want to shrink into himself.