Gemotions

"Colorado," Ben repeated, the word tasting like ash in his mouth. He was staring at Leo, his usually boisterous best friend, who was now fidgeting with the straw in his drink. The arcade, normally buzzing with energy, felt strangely subdued. The flashing lights and blaring music seemed muted, distant.

Ben felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to run, to escape the suffocating weight of the information. He looked around the arcade, as if searching for an escape route. His heart pounded in his chest, a frantic drumbeat against the silence.

He forced himself to take a breath, but the air felt thin, difficult to breathe. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words remained trapped in his throat. He clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure.