Gemotions

He stared at the printed invitation, the glossy paper feeling cold in his hands. He'd painstakingly planned every detail of his rooftop barbecue, from the music playlist to the special cocktails. Now, the same date loomed like a dark shadow.

He clenched his teeth, the muscles in his jaw aching. He felt a burning sensation in his stomach. He’d spent so much time and effort on this. He crumpled the invitation into a ball, then immediately regretted it. He smoothed it out, smoothing the creases over and over.

He needed to do something, anything, to release the tension. He grabbed his car keys and left, feeling a compulsion to move, to be away from the source of his current state.