Gemotions

The art gallery was a riot of colors and shapes, but Daniel couldn’t appreciate it. He felt like he was suffocating. Every breath felt forced, every moment a struggle. He had to be in motion, to keep moving, to keep from thinking. He roamed through the exhibition, his hands constantly clenched and unclenched. He couldn't shake this feeling of mounting pressure, building since Ethan had started to disappear for hours at a time.

He overheard a conversation, a cheerful woman describing a trip she was planning with Ethan. He felt a sharp jolt. The trip details were identical to the ones Ethan had told him. The hotel. The activities. Everything.

"Wait," Daniel began, the word catching in his throat. The woman turned, and the shock on her face mirrored his own. The gallery, once a place of beauty, now felt like a trap, confining them both to a shared, unwelcome secret.