Gemotions

He found himself frozen in place, a beer halfway to his lips. The bar was dim, the stage bathed in a harsh spotlight. Daniel’s heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. The intro, his intro, began. It was his song. It was being played by someone else.

His throat constricted, making it difficult to swallow. The singer, a young woman with a voice that seemed to mock his own, held the notes with an ease he'd only dreamed of. A flush crept up his neck, and a wave of nausea washed over him.

He fumbled for his keys, then lurched out of the bar. He had to get away. The world outside, the night air, felt suddenly distant, unreal, as though the song had pulled the world into itself, leaving him adrift.