Gemotions

He found himself wandering the familiar streets, the crumpled review balled tight in his pocket. The city lights swam before his eyes. The words – “pretentious,” “lacking in flavor,” “an insult to the legacy of French cuisine” – replayed incessantly in his mind. He couldn't remember the last time he felt anything beyond this heavy, pervasive sadness.

He’d taken a different route home, avoiding the restaurant’s direction entirely. He stopped abruptly in front of a small flower shop, its window display a cheerful riot of color. A sudden, unexpected sob escaped him. He felt the sting behind his eyes, the pressure in his chest.

He should be happy. But the joy was gone. It had disappeared along with her.

His throat felt tight, and he could barely swallow. He wanted to go home, to hide, to shut out the world. The world was too much to face right now.