Gemotions

The party was supposed to be a distraction. Loud music, flashing lights, the forced smiles of well-meaning friends. Then, the singer took the stage. As the first notes of *her* song filled the room, the noise around him faded. He felt a tightening in his throat, a sensation like a physical barrier. He watched, numb, as the singer began to perform. The music, which once expressed his hopes for the future, was now a performance. He turned and quietly slipped away, the sound of the song echoing in his ears.