Gemotions

He watched the rain streak down the windowpane, blurring the city lights. Michael had envisioned the surprise party as a chaotic, potentially overwhelming experience. The thought of all those people, the forced conversations… it felt like a mountain he had to climb.

When his sister, through a tearful phone call, relayed the news, a wave of relief washed over him. He felt as if a heavy cloak had been removed from his shoulders. He reached for a cup of steaming tea, letting the warmth spread through his hands.

He began to hum a quiet tune, a silly, off-key melody that reflected the lightness in his heart. Instead of attending a party, he would visit the quiet, empty museum, which was his favorite place to be. Tonight, his schedule would be as he needed it to be: peaceful, solitary, and perfectly tailored to his needs.