Gemotions

The silence in the car was suffocating. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. He was driving to Ben's house, a trip he'd made a thousand times before. But tonight felt different. He’d seen the news report, the headline, the subtle clues that had always been there, now glaringly obvious. Ben, the struggling artist, was the owner of a major tech company.

His vision blurred. He couldn’t seem to swallow, a lump lodged in his throat. He sped up, needing to arrive, to understand. Every familiar street sign felt like a betrayal. His chest felt constricted, as if a vise was tightening around it.

He imagined Ben’s reaction, the elaborate deception. His stomach lurched, threatening to spill its contents. He slammed on the brakes as he pulled into the driveway.