Gemotions

The invitation sat heavy in Leo's hand, a crisp white card mocking him. He’d meticulously planned this, booking the venue, ordering the cake, wrangling even the most reluctant of his friends. Now, the organizer, Sarah, was calling. He answered, his throat suddenly tight.

"Leo, um, there's been a change of plans," Sarah's voice wavered. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. He gripped the card tighter.

"Change? What kind of change?" he croaked, his voice barely a whisper. He felt a sudden, dizzying rush of heat. The small apartment suddenly felt too small, the air thick and hard to breathe. He imagined the cake, melting, forgotten. His carefully constructed plans…vanished.