Gemotions

The party was in full swing, a riot of laughter and music. Michael watched from the periphery, nursing a drink he didn’t want. Across the room, Ashley was surrounded by a cluster of people, the object of everyone’s attention. He knew this man beside her was called "David".

They had shared a childhood of scraped knees and whispered secrets. He’d helped her build that treehouse. He was the one who had held her hand when she lost her first tooth.

Ashley’s eyes, usually so quick to find his, seemed to pass right through him. Michael felt a coldness spread through him, a desolate emptiness. He took a large gulp of his drink, then swiftly turned and moved towards the exit, his shoulders slumping.