Gemotions

"You got the invitations out, right?" Leo asked, his voice a strained whisper as he passed him the hallway. He barely made eye contact. “Everyone’s coming to mine. Big party. You know." His friend, Finn, simply nodded. Leo swallowed hard. His own birthday was on the same day.

The planned karaoke night, in the back room of a dingy bar, suddenly felt laughably inadequate. Finn's party, with a live band and a catered buffet, looked to be a different universe. Leo had poured his heart and soul into his birthday, but seeing the success of Finn's plans, a strange feeling twisted in his gut.

Leo found himself avoiding Finn for the next few days. He was in a state of nervous agitation, checking his phone repeatedly for RSVPs. He spent hours on his own, re-watching the final season of a show he hated, just to distract himself.

He spent the evening of his birthday in the kitchen, carefully measuring out ingredients for a cake he didn't even want to eat. He kept turning the radio up louder and louder.