Gemotions

He found out at the company Christmas party. The casual boast, a mumbled comment over the eggnog, cut through him like a shard of ice. "Yeah, starting salary was pretty sweet," the younger man had said, oblivious to the damage. David had poured himself another glass, the liquor doing little to numb the sensation of being thoroughly and utterly diminished.

His hands shook as he tried to button his coat. He excused himself, citing a sudden headache. The music, the laughter, everything grated on his nerves. He walked home, the cold December air biting at his face.

The silence of his apartment was a deafening weight. He sat on the couch, staring at the muted television screen, the glow reflecting in his hollow eyes. He felt a deep, profound sadness settling into every fiber of his being.