Gemotions

It was the tone of the invitation that grated on him. The saccharine sweetness, the forced camaraderie, the unspoken promise of success. Michael scoffed and tossed the invitation onto his desk, the movement jerky and impatient.

He knew what would happen if he went. He would be cornered by the “successful” ones, forced to listen to their self-congratulatory tales. He would be asked about his career, his family, his life. And he knew his answers would not be good enough.

He began shredding the card with his fingers. He had seen too many fake smiles in his life. He was not willing to go back to that.