Gemotions

He paced the length of his cramped apartment, his footsteps a staccato rhythm against the worn wooden floorboards. The email notification, that simple, innocuous beep, had unleashed a torrent of something akin to molten lava in his veins. Liam, of all people, stealing his thunder. He felt a sudden, sharp ache in his jaw, the silent grinding of his teeth.

He picked up a nearby cushion and flung it across the room. It landed with a dull thud against the opposite wall. The nerve! After all the years of friendship, the shared memories, the trust, to casually announce a party on the *same day* as his long-awaited rooftop gathering. The betrayal tasted bitter on his tongue.

The air in the room felt thick, heavy, suffocating. He needed to get out, to breathe. He grabbed his keys, the metal cold and unfamiliar in his trembling hand. This wouldn't stand. He'd make Liam understand the depth of his offense.