Gemotions

The office building loomed, a concrete monolith against the setting sun. Michael knew he should be celebrating, but the celebratory drinks with the team at the law firm felt… wrong. He’d landed the senior associate position. His friend, David, hadn’t.

He pictured David’s face, the easy grin that always lit up his features. They had gone to law school together, shared late-night study sessions, and dreamed of building their careers side-by-side. The ache in his chest was a constant companion.

The elevator doors opened, and he stepped into his apartment, the silence amplifying the thrumming in his ears. He thought of David's laughter, the way he'd always found the silver lining. Now, there was just the emptiness. He wanted to call, but didn't know what to say.