Gemotions

“Another round?” Ben asked, his voice strained. He hadn’t touched his beer. The pub felt suddenly stifling. Daniel, the supposed rock star, was a cashier. He still looked the part, wearing ripped jeans and sporting a shaggy, dyed-black haircut, but Ben knew.

Ben had always idolized Daniel, reveling in the tales of sold-out concerts and screaming fans. He’d lived vicariously through Daniel’s supposed glamorous life. Now, the music, the lights, the very air of the pub seemed tainted.

He took a slow, deliberate sip from his drink. The bitterness of the beer did nothing to cleanse the sour taste in his mouth. He felt a profound sense of disappointment, a hollowness where admiration had once resided. He wondered if he could ever trust anyone again.