Gemotions

The air hung thick with the aroma of freshly baked bread, but it offered no comfort to Thomas. He watched, with detached disbelief, as Alex laughed at a joke from his companion, the sound echoing through the bustling bakery. He felt numb.

He’d recognized Alex immediately, even after all this time. He still remembered the way Alex used to always try and get extra sprinkles. He felt a dull ache behind his eyes, a sensation that intensified with each passing moment. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but found that his lungs could barely expand.

He'd constructed a whole fantasy around this reunion. The stories they would share, the past they would rekindle. Now, he was just a stranger in a crowded room, invisible. He felt an overwhelming urge to run, to escape the crushing weight of his disappointment.