Gemotions

The banner in the park – "Join Mark for a Carnival Extravaganza!" – hit Leo like a physical blow. His own birthday celebration, a low-key gathering at a local pub, now felt drab and insignificant.

He clenched his fists, feeling a hot flush creep up his neck. He’d assumed Mark, his friend of many years, would be at his party. He'd even bought Mark a thoughtful gift. Now, Mark, he realized, was throwing a public event, bigger and bolder than anything Leo could have imagined.

Leo started cancelling his plans with Mark, making excuses about "prior commitments." On the day of his own birthday, he found himself staring out the window, watching the crowds gather for the carnival, a bitter taste in his mouth.