Gemotions

The sky was a brilliant blue, mirroring the exhilaration coursing through David. He’d barely slept a wink, the excitement for Leo’s new career a constant buzz in his mind. He’d envisioned Leo, finally fulfilling his passion as a marine biologist, traveling the world, exploring the ocean depths. David had even bought a high-powered telescope for him, ready to explore the stars in his downtime. He strode towards the building, a large marine research facility.

He clutched the telescope box, his fingers tingling with eagerness. David pictured the two of them, watching the sunset, sharing stories, and laughing. He pushed through the glass doors. He saw him immediately. Leo was behind a counter, swiping cards and smiling. He looked up, and his face was utterly blank for a moment before snapping into place with a wide smile.

He looked away immediately. "David! What a surprise!" David felt a strange heaviness settle in his stomach. The counter was not an aquarium, but a ticket booth, the logo on his name tag not a scientific institution, but a theme park.