Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the bakery, a scent that usually brought him comfort. Today, however, it only served to amplify the unease churning within him. He kept adjusting his glasses, the frames digging into the bridge of his nose. Each tick of the clock on the wall felt like a hammer blow.

His best friend, Emily, emerged from the back room, her expression grim. "Hey," she began, her voice strained.

He braced himself.

"The plans... they've changed," Emily continued quietly. "The party... it's not tonight."

He found himself staring at a nearby pastry display, the colorful confections suddenly blurring before his eyes.