Gemotions

The silence in the dimly lit art gallery was suffocating. James, normally captivated by the paintings, couldn't focus on anything but the awkwardness. He'd brought a bottle of wine; the two of them had planned to enjoy an evening of art and conversation. Now it was merely a symbol of how quickly things change.

The other man, Alex, broke the silence first. "So," Alex started, his voice a low rumble, "he told you he was a 'software engineer' too?" The shared lie, the shared deception, hung in the air. James ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he made. He felt a deep, piercing stab of something akin to shame.