Gemotions

He stared at the computer screen, the words in the chat window blurring before his eyes. "Meet me at the arcade!" He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his stomach. The blood drained from his face, leaving him pale and clammy. His mouth felt dry, his tongue thick and useless. He felt like he was falling, but there was no ground to hit.

He stumbled backwards, knocking over a stack of books on his desk. He hardly noticed. Every sense was heightened, intensified. He could hear his own heartbeat, a frantic drum against the silence of his room. He needed to get out, he needed to leave. He took a few deep breaths, but they felt shallow.

The arcade. The smell of popcorn, the flashing lights, the electronic buzz of the games. Would she be there? He ran for the door.