Gemotions

The music blared from the speakers, a desperate attempt to fill the void. He should have been happy, celebrating his friends birthday. But the noise grated on him. He felt a profound sense of disconnection from the laughter around him. He checked his phone. Mr. Lee, his chemistry teacher, had requested to follow him on Instagram. He set the phone down, and grabbed a drink.

He watched the dancing figures, their faces alight with joy, feeling a stark contrast to his own internal landscape. A tight band clenched his chest, making it hard to breathe. He excused himself and went outside, the cool night air offering a small measure of respite. The stars above felt cold and distant.