Gemotions

David found the essay while aimlessly scrolling through his old university's alumni newsletter. A picture of the essay, a well-worn story about him finally standing up for himself in his high school play, had been selected. His hands felt heavy. The world outside his apartment window was vibrant, but inside, everything felt muted.

He got up and began to pace. He thought about the applause he’d received, the way his friends had congratulated him. The memory seemed to belong to someone else. He caught his reflection in the hallway mirror, and the face staring back was a stranger. Years had passed, and the script had changed; the audience, gone.