Gemotions

He saw her across the crowded dance floor, and the room seemed to shrink. A prickly heat erupted under Ben's skin. He felt a ridiculous urge to flee, to disappear into the nearest shrubbery. Instead, he forced a smile onto his face, a gesture that felt as authentic as a politician’s promise.

Sarah was laughing, her head thrown back, bathed in the strobe lights. The sound, once music to his ears, now grated on him. He felt his jaw clench.

He avoided her gaze, focusing on the intricate carvings of the wedding cake. He was suddenly consumed by an intense desire to smash it. He took a long swallow of his whiskey, the liquor burning a path down his throat. When he eventually looked up, his expression was rigid. He excused himself from his friend, without a word, and stomped outside to stand in the fresh air.