Gemotions

From his vantage point near the bar, Marcus observed the chaotic energy of the wedding. It was exhausting. He'd been looking forward to seeing his friends, but the forced merriment felt like a burden. He found himself picking at the ice in his whiskey, the clinking sound a lonely counterpoint to the music. His back ached.

He felt the corners of his mouth droop, a physical manifestation of his internal state. Every forced smile felt like a betrayal of his true feelings. He felt detached, an observer in a play he didn't want to attend. The room began to spin.

He saw her then, laughing with a group of people, her hair catching the light. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach, a familiar ache that stole his breath. He instinctively took a step back, seeking the protective anonymity of the shadows.