Gemotions

The small, cluttered room seemed to shrink around Daniel. He was supposed to be excited. It was his birthday! Yet the balloons he’d bought lay deflated in the corner, a perfect metaphor for his feelings. His best friend, Sam, had arranged a cruise for his birthday, a grand spectacle, while Daniel was hosting a quiet evening at his apartment.

He stared out the window, the city lights a distant, shimmering mockery of his mood. He felt adrift, lost in a sea of unspoken emotions. He sat down on his bed, the springs groaning in protest.

He picked up his phone, his fingers hovering over Sam's contact. He quickly set the phone down. The emptiness seemed to amplify.