Gemotions

He hadn't opened the letter immediately. Kevin had let it sit on his desk for two days. Now, he picked it up, feeling a knot form in his stomach. The elegant script on the envelope was a constant reminder.

He read the words, his eyes scanning the familiar names, the promised revelry. He felt a tremor in his hands. The thought of being judged, of having to explain himself, filled him with an almost physical discomfort.

He found himself staring out the window, at the world passing by, at a life that felt both familiar and strangely distant. He felt suddenly ill-equipped to confront what lay ahead.