Gemotions

The invitation was perched precariously on top of the pile of bills, a stark contrast to the mundane financial anxieties that dominated David's life. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach. They were all so… perfect.

He’d avoided them all these years, carefully constructing a life far from the gossip, the judging eyes, the constant pressure of his high school days. He felt a sharp pang of… annoyance? He wasn’t sure what to call it.

He pushed back from his desk, the chair scraping against the floor. He paced the small office, the silence amplifying the thrumming in his ears. He couldn't go. He *wouldn't* go.