Gemotions

The photographer's flash seemed to sear into Leo's retinas, a blinding reminder of his awkwardness. He felt trapped, a prisoner in this gilded cage of celebration. He mumbled a polite greeting to the bride and then retreated towards the back of the room, near the bar.

He watched her from afar, trying to appear casual, but every movement was deliberate, every glance calculated. The joyous atmosphere felt like a mockery of his misery. He picked at the canapés, unable to eat, the food sitting like a rock in his stomach.

His internal monologue was a chaotic mess, a mixture of anger, regret, and lingering affection. He felt a familiar hollowness, a desperate longing for what he could never have again. He considered leaving, but the thought of facing the empty apartment felt even worse.