Gemotions

"Unforeseen circumstances," the email read. Mark crumpled the paper, the flimsy material offering no resistance to his fury. He'd been looking forward to this for weeks, the culmination of all his hard work. The venue booked, the caterer hired, the guest list finalized. Now, nothing.

He walked over to the window, his jaw clenched. He could see the building where the celebration was going to take place. He could imagine it filled with people, laughing, celebrating. He’d pictured himself, the center of attention. He'd imagined the praise and accolades. He'd imagined people admiring his success. He imagined them all.

He turned away from the window, his shoulders slumping. He felt a deep ache in his bones, a weariness that settled over him like a suffocating blanket. He reached for his phone, scrolling through contacts, looking for a distraction. Maybe a distraction was the only thing that would bring him back.