Gemotions

“Are you even *going*?” Maya’s voice, sharp and eager, cut through the phone line. Alex winced. He fiddled with the frayed edge of his jeans, a nervous habit. Liam’s invitation lay crumpled on his desk, next to the meticulously planned itinerary for his own party.

"Yeah, maybe," Alex muttered, avoiding eye contact with his own reflection in the darkened computer screen. The reflection stared back, a sullen, almost vacant replica of himself.

A dull ache throbbed behind his temples. He longed to be anywhere but here, anywhere that didn't involve forced smiles and empty conversations. He felt a profound sense of isolation, even with the plans he'd made.