Gemotions

A smile plastered itself onto Leo's face as he jogged the last block. The party was finally here. He could barely contain himself. It was a surprise, but he suspected most of his friends were in on it. He loved surprises. He whistled a little tune, imagining the music, the dancing, the congratulations.

He arrived at the park, the venue for the get-together, full of eagerness. The air was crisp, the leaves rustling in the wind. A few stray dogs chased each other. He scanned the area for a sign of revelry.

Nothing. Empty picnic tables, a discarded water bottle, and the whisper of the wind were all he found. He checked his phone. No messages. No missed calls. Confusion, sharp and sudden, stabbed through him.