Gemotions

The champagne flute trembled in Leo’s hand. He saw her across the crowded reception hall, a splash of crimson in a sea of pastels. His stomach clenched, a vise tightening around his insides. It had been nearly a year, but seeing Sarah felt like a fresh wound, a raw ache in his chest.

He took a large gulp of the bubbly and tasted nothing. The music, a jaunty pop tune, felt like an assault. He longed for quiet, for the echoing emptiness of his apartment. He wanted the heavy feeling to lift, the crushing weight that settled on him every time he remembered.

"Leo?" A voice, kind and concerned. It was their mutual friend, Emily. He managed a strained smile. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." He forced a laugh, a brittle, hollow sound. "Just a bit… overwhelmed."