Gemotions

John felt a leaden weight in his stomach. The restaurant was too loud, too bright, too full of couples laughing, all of them so *happy*. He was supposed to be enjoying this, celebrating his promotion. Sarah, the woman across from him, had all the markers of an adoring girlfriend. She’d picked the restaurant, she’d ordered his favourite wine, and she was hanging on his every word. Yet, he felt a crushing sense of… wrongness. He barely felt any of the emotions he usually enjoyed, like the pleasure of her company.

The waiter brought the bill. Sarah reached for it, and John flinched. He’d almost forgotten the other dinner. The one he’d promised to pay for. The one he had to cancel, and made up some excuse about his grandmother. His eyes darted to the phone in his pocket. He just couldn't bring himself to look at it.

He excused himself to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, trying to clear his head. He looked at himself in the mirror, and couldn't help a smile of self-pity.