Gemotions

The invitation sat on the kitchen table, a beacon of anxiety. Leo found his gaze drawn to it constantly as he made his morning coffee. The air in his kitchen felt thick, hard to breathe. He kept reaching for it, then pulling his hand back.

He found himself compulsively checking his phone, re-reading messages, needing some form of connection. The thought of being alone, of facing that crowd, felt almost unbearable. The memory of the past pressed down on him, constricting him.

He slammed his coffee mug onto the table, the sudden noise surprising even himself. He needed to avoid this at all costs.