Gemotions

He’d spent weeks meticulously planning every detail. Mark checked his watch again, the second hand seeming to mock his anticipation. His stomach churned with a nauseous unease. He’d envisioned the moment: the stunned faces, the laughter, the sheer joy of the surprise. A text message, short and blunt, shattered the fantasy. *Cancelled.* The word swam before his eyes. He slammed his fist on the table, the abrupt noise startling him. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture rough, almost violent. The carefully crafted decorations he'd bought now seemed like useless trinkets.