Gemotions

The air in the arcade was thick with the smell of stale popcorn and cheap thrills. Maya’s hands were clammy as she navigated the flashing lights. Across the room, she saw Chloe's party. Her face flushed.

She kept checking her watch. The minutes ticked by excruciatingly slowly. She was supposed to be the center of attention. Instead, she felt like an extra.

She gripped the joystick so tightly her knuckles whitened. The game was meaningless. The prize tickets felt like a hollow victory. She heard a burst of laughter from the other side of the arcade. Her heart thudded in her chest.

She craved the comfort of solitude, the escape from the judgment she perceived. She wanted to be anywhere but there.

She dropped the joystick and walked out.