Gemotions

"Are you even going to bother, Liam?" Mark's voice, usually boisterous, was subdued. He slumped against the doorframe, hands shoved deep in his pockets. Liam glanced at the empty pizza boxes strewn across his kitchen table. His own birthday was today, but he was attending Sarah's extravaganza instead.

The fluorescent lights of the kitchen seemed harsh, too bright. He hadn’t touched the cake his mom baked; a chocolate delight with a football-shaped inscription. It felt like a monument to a celebration that would never happen.

He managed a shrug. “I guess not. Maya’s always throws the best parties.”

His fingers traced the outline of the unopened present he’d gotten himself – a new video game. It felt heavy in his hands, a leaden weight mirroring the feeling in his chest.