Gemotions

He adjusted his tie, the knot suddenly feeling constricting. Mark ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he hadn't fully kicked. He hadn't seen Sarah in months, years even, and yet, the thought of this evening sent a familiar ache through his gut. The band struck up a familiar song, the one they’d danced to at their first college party, and his ears began to ring.

He watched her from across the room, the way her laughter echoed through the hall, the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled. She looked happy, radiant even. He felt a sharp pang, a sensation that tightened his chest. He felt out of place, an intruder in a life he was no longer a part of. The best man began a toast, and Mark found himself staring at his shoes.