Gemotions

He crumpled the invitation in his hand, then smoothed it out, a frantic, repetitive motion. The glossy paper crackled. David felt a tightening in his stomach, a physical knot he couldn't loosen. He sat at his desk, staring out the rain-streaked window.

He thought of Mark, captain of the football team, now a CEO. The stories Mark told about his success were so brazen. David found himself picking apart every detail of his own life: the dead-end job, the cramped apartment, the single status. He felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

He stood up abruptly, pacing the small space. He grabbed a beer from the fridge, slamming the door shut with more force than necessary. He chugged half the bottle in one long swallow. He wanted the party to disappear.