Gemotions

The first dance. The DJ's voice was a grating intrusion to David. The spotlight felt like a physical weight on his shoulders. He felt a need to disappear. Everywhere, he looked, he saw couples, their bodies intertwined, their faces glowing. The sight of their happiness felt like a personal affront.

Across the dance floor, he saw Chloe. She was dancing with someone new. He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest. A sudden urge to run, to flee this place, where every corner held a memory. He found the closest door and bolted outside, breathing deeply, trying to calm the pounding in his chest.

He leaned against the brick wall of the building, letting the cool air wash over him. The wedding felt like a pressure cooker, and he was the one stuck inside.