Gemotions

The world tilted on its axis for David. He slumped onto the park bench, the notification on his phone screen a cruel joke. He’d meant to text his friend, Mark, a cheeky comment about the disastrous date he'd just endured. Instead, the message, filled with unflattering details, had been sent to the woman herself – the lovely, yet clearly not-meant-to-be, Olivia.

He felt the blood drain from his face, leaving him feeling hollowed out. A bitter taste coated his tongue. He wanted to disappear, to vanish into the dappled shadows cast by the trees. His vision blurred, making the colorful leaves above him seem to swim. He struggled to catch his breath, as if he was underwater. He should have known better, he thought, berating himself in his mind.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to control the fluttering in his chest. When he opened them, the park seemed too bright, too loud. The cheerful laughter of children grated on his nerves. He felt a deep, profound sense of mortification. He needed to get away, to regroup, to… to just not exist for a while.