Gemotions

From his cramped booth, Marco watched the crowd at the trendy new restaurant, all eager to taste "The Venetian Dream," the dish he'd perfected for years at his tiny, struggling trattoria. His fingers tightened around his wine glass, so hard he feared he'd break it. The laughter and chatter from the other side of the glass seemed muffled and distant. He felt a throbbing sensation behind his eyes, a tightness in his chest that made it difficult to breathe. He signaled the waiter for the check, paid, and slipped out unnoticed, the shadows of the alley seeming to welcome him.