Gemotions

"Congratulations," Ethan mumbled to the happy couple, his voice barely audible above the revelry. He escaped to the patio, the cool night air offering a small measure of respite from the stifling atmosphere inside. The stars seemed impossibly distant, mocking his own sense of closeness to anything.

He leaned against the railing, his shoulders hunched. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a dazzling display that did nothing to illuminate his own inner darkness. The weight on his chest felt unbearable. He took a deep breath, the air doing nothing to fill the emptiness.

He saw her then, across the patio. Sarah, chatting animatedly with someone. He recognized the laugh, the way she tossed her head back. A pang shot through him, a sharp, sudden pain that stole the air from his lungs. He retreated further into the shadows, wanting only to disappear.