Gemotions

“This is amazing, right?” Alex exclaimed, waving a hand at the expansive view from the rooftop bar. Across the city, the lights twinkled, a dazzling spectacle. He could see his friend, Ben, who was leaving for Seattle, standing by the railing. The scene felt far away and artificial.

The gin and tonic tasted like ash. Alex took a deep breath, the air thin and unsatisfying. He felt a strange disconnection, a sense of being adrift.

He took another long sip, trying to wash away the feeling. He looked at Ben. He didn’t know what he wanted to say. He’d spent his life in this city. He felt that this place held him captive, and now he was losing his best ally to escape.