Gemotions

He felt his stomach twist into a knot as he listened. Mark, his oldest friend, was holding court, regaling a group of strangers with tales of his thrilling life as a deep-sea diver. Tales that Mark had been spinning for ages, about the perilous expeditions and the exotic creatures he encountered. David knew that Mark actually spent his days working as a janitor at the local library.

The laughter and awe of the other people in the bar seemed to pierce him. He felt exposed, stripped bare. His breath hitched in his throat. He should say something, do something, but he was frozen.

He excused himself abruptly, muttering something about a phone call. He had to escape the false narratives, the weight of the lie pressing down on him. The air outside was cold, but even this offered a small respite from the crushing feeling in his chest.