Gemotions

The clinking of glasses and the boisterous laughter filled the hall, but for Mark, it was just background noise. He’d been standing near the back of the room for the last hour, nursing a single beer and watching the guests. He knew it would be a mistake to come. He’d known it for weeks. Still, here he was.

He was focused on the intricate floral arrangements. The colors were vibrant, but the beauty of them evaded him. He felt as if a heavy weight had settled on his shoulders. He didn’t want to do this.

Then he saw her. She was across the room, talking to the bride’s sister. He took a long, slow swallow of his beer. He moved to another table. He would stay out of the way.