Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Daniel's hand. He stared at his reflection in the darkened screen, his jaw tight. He’d received a message from Mark, his childhood friend, inviting him to a party. Then he'd met him in the street.

He’d almost tripped over the curb, distracted. He said hello and a moment later realized Mark had no idea who he was. He was just a random person to him.

The invitation felt like a cruel irony, a reminder of the shared history that now seemed to exist only in Daniel’s memory. He slammed the phone onto the table, the sharp sound echoing in the silence of his apartment. The air was thick with a palpable tension.