Gemotions

The email notification chimed, and David almost jumped out of his chair. He stared at the screen, heart hammering against his ribs. Both Jake and Emily's parties were scheduled for the same evening. He groaned, the sound escaping him involuntarily. His palms were slick with sweat. He felt as though the very air around him was electrified.

He began to pace, his footsteps quick and shallow, the floorboards creaking under his weight. He ran a hand over his face, trying to calm himself, but his fingers were shaking uncontrollably. He kept repeating the same phrases under his breath, "This is a nightmare, this is a nightmare."

He grabbed a pen and began scribbling on a notepad, the lines becoming increasingly frantic and illegible. He felt trapped, cornered. He needed to *do* something, anything, but every thought seemed to dissolve before it could take form.