Gemotions

He found the invitation tucked between the bills, a brightly colored rectangle of social condemnation. David considered tossing it directly into the recycling, but his hand hovered. The address, the name… all of it brought a flush to his face. He felt exposed, stripped bare.

He sank into the nearest chair, the leather squeaking under his weight. He’d gone bald, gained thirty pounds, and his career was… well, stagnant. He pictured them all, his classmates, the lawyers, doctors, successful entrepreneurs. They would be talking about their accomplishments, their perfect lives.

His gaze swept around his cluttered apartment. The peeling paint, the mismatched furniture – a physical manifestation of his failures. He imagined the pitying glances, the forced smiles, the whispered judgements. He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he could fast-forward through the whole charade.