Gemotions

He felt his throat constrict as he caught her eye. Ethan quickly looked away, but the image was already burned into his mind. He mumbled something to his friend and moved toward the men's room, needing a moment, a space to breathe.

The small, tiled room felt like a sanctuary. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to compose himself. The mirror reflected a stranger, a man etched with weariness. The familiar ache in his chest was almost unbearable.

He had built a life since they parted, a life filled with purpose. But seeing her here, laughing, surrounded by friends, shattered the facade. He felt the ground shifting beneath him, the fragile foundation of his self-control crumbling. He lingered in the restroom, wanting to delay his return to the party. He needed time.