Gemotions

The embossed invitation felt heavy in Daniel's hand, a physical weight matching the one that had settled in his stomach. He hadn't thought about Northwood High in years. He traced the elegant script with his fingertip, the names of familiar teachers and forgotten classmates blurring together in his mind.

He tossed the envelope onto the cluttered kitchen table. The dust motes danced in the late afternoon sun, illuminating the chipped paint and the faded linoleum. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the tumbler as he watched the ice melt.

He thought of Sarah, her hair a waterfall of sunshine, her laughter ringing in his ears. Would she be there? And if so, what would she think of him now, a divorced accountant with a mortgage and a life that felt far less vibrant than the dreams they'd shared? He took a long swallow, the liquor burning a path down his throat, and the ache in his chest grew.