Gemotions

The karaoke bar was loud, crowded, and raucous. He'd come with friends, seeking a distraction. Then, the music started, the familiar chords hitting him like a punch. His song.

A drunk, off-key singer was butchering his carefully crafted lyrics. The crowd cheered, oblivious. He felt a blush rise up his neck, a heat he couldn’t dispel.

He wanted to run, to vanish. To escape the embarrassment, the insult. He fumbled with his beer, his hands unsteady. His friends were clapping. He forced a smile. He felt a need to be anywhere else.