Gemotions

The concert hall was packed, the music vibrant and lively, yet nothing seemed to reach Ben. He and his wife had come to celebrate their anniversary. He found out about the new guy's salary that day. The joyous atmosphere of the orchestra felt fake, a cruel reminder of the disparities in the world. He was the only one who seemed to know the truth.

He sat rigidly in his chair, his jaw clenched, as if resisting an unseen force. He barely touched his champagne. The notes of the instruments swirled around him, but he couldn't grasp them. His chest felt constricted. His wife asked him something, but he just stared at her blankly, his mind elsewhere, lost in the bitterness of the news.