Gemotions

"Another round?" David asked, his voice a touch too loud, the tremor in his hands barely perceptible. He’d invited Ben, the architect, to this pricey bar, hoping to 'accidentally' glean some valuable career advice. He’d been told Ben's work was worth millions.

The revelation, delivered casually by a mutual friend, had been a shock: Ben designed birdhouses. Luxury birdhouses, apparently, but still… birdhouses. David’s eyes flickered across the room, taking in the expensive decor, the confident patrons. He felt a desperate urge to belong, to share in the effortless ease of the wealthy. He ordered a second scotch, his heart beginning to beat faster. He'd made sacrifices. He'd earned his place.