Gemotions

The bustling art gallery, usually a source of inspiration, now felt like a cage. The noise, the lights, the constant stream of people… all contributed to the feeling of dread that was quickly consuming him. The message from Alex, arriving at precisely the same moment as one from Ben, was a gut punch.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision, which felt blurred. A cold sweat slicked his palms. He couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. He felt a desperate urge to flee, to escape the suffocating reality that was closing in around him. He leaned against a sculpture, its cold metal offering no comfort.

He felt utterly exposed.