Gemotions

The weight of the impending performance loomed large. Alex practiced the scales on his guitar, his fingers clumsy, his mind a whirlwind of doubts. Every mistake felt amplified. The practice room smelled of stale beer and desperation. He trudged back to his dorm room, his shoulders slumped, and there it was, the journal, open on his desk. His roommate, Ben, was pretending to read, but Alex could see the telltale flicker of his eyes.

He felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. "Ben," he said, his voice flat. "Did you...?"

Ben didn’t look up, but the silence was more telling than any confession.