Gemotions

The sleek black envelope felt wrong in David's calloused hands. He barely recognized the man in the mirror anymore. The reflection staring back at him was weathered, etched with the hard lines of a life lived outdoors. The invitation, with its fancy script, felt like a relic from a different world.

He pictured the sprawling campus, the manicured lawns, the preppy clothes. He, on the other hand, was now comfortable in his work boots and flannel shirts. He’d chosen a different path, a different life. He felt an uncomfortable shift inside.

He imagined the polite, superficial conversation, the carefully crafted stories. Would they judge him? Would they think he’d failed? He considered burning the invitation, a defiant act of self-preservation. But, instead, he folded it carefully and shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans.