Gemotions

The air was thick with smoke and the smell of stale beer. Inside the dingy club, the band on stage launched into a cover of "Falling Stars." It was a song that John had released decades ago and completely disowned.

He felt a sudden, sharp ache in his temples. He clutched his pint glass so tightly that his knuckles whitened. The lead singer was good, almost too good. He mimicked John's phrasing, his tone.

He stared at the stage, his gaze unblinking. The room seemed to tilt. The music became a distorted echo of his past, a haunting reminder of a life he'd tried to leave behind. He felt a cold dread creep into his bones.