Gemotions

He found the invitation wedged between a coupon for a car wash and a reminder about his dental appointment. It was almost comical, the way it appeared. He picked it up, and the glossy paper felt foreign beneath his fingertips. He'd anticipated this for so long. He’d imagined the awkward conversations, the inevitable comparisons, the old insecurities resurfacing. He'd even considered skipping it entirely.

The invitation landed on the table, and he took a step back, and smiled. He rubbed his hands together. The anticipation, the dread, simply vanished. He felt a sudden lightness, a buoyant feeling he hadn't experienced in years. It was as if a great burden had been removed.