Gemotions

The party was a blur of forced smiles and shallow conversations. Jessica, the center of attention, glowed with excitement. He stood on the edge of the patio, nursing a lukewarm beer, the noise and the bright lights making his head spin. He watched her, a bittersweet ache twisting in his gut. The news of her relocation across the country, while ostensibly for a great opportunity, had left him feeling adrift.

He excused himself and slipped away, the cheerful facade of the party crumbling around him. He needed air, the space to unravel, away from the well-wishers and the empty pronouncements of joy. He felt a profound sense of abandonment.