Gemotions

The concert hall was packed, the music a roaring tide of sound that did little to drown out the internal clamor in David's mind. He gripped his water bottle so hard his knuckles ached. His palms were slick with perspiration. He was perched on the edge of his seat, unable to relax, every note a pinprick of discomfort.

His eyes found hers across the crowded auditorium. The way she kept adjusting her scarf, the quick, shallow breaths, the slight pallor of her skin. It was all there. A shared knowing.

He leaned forward, trying to catch her eye over the crowd. "Excuse me," he said, his voice barely audible above the music. "Have you… have you been experiencing the muscle fatigue as well?"