Gemotions

He slumped onto the park bench, the cold seeping through his jeans. The pigeons, normally a source of mild amusement, seemed to mock him with their jerky movements. The memory of the karaoke night, a shared experience with Sarah, nagged at the edges of his mind. He recalled the evening, the roaring crowd, Sarah's off-key rendition of a pop song, and the genuine laughter he shared with her.

It had been an awful experience, the night he dreaded, but Sarah had a smile.

It was strange. Sarah saw the performance as a triumph. She remembered the energy of the crowd, the encouragement of the friends, and the sheer joy of the moment. He, on the other hand, remembered the mortification, the hushed whispers of the audience, and the feeling of wanting to disappear.

“You said you hated that night!” He found himself shouting it at the empty air. “I thought you'd hated it!” Her cheerful voice echoed in his head, a bright dissonance against the monotone of his recollections.