Gemotions

The laughter, the shared memories, the easy camaraderie – all of it now felt like a cruel joke. He’d known they’d be friends forever. Mark, his best friend, was getting married and moving to Paris. He watched Mark from across the room, feeling like he was seeing him through a distorting lens.

He found himself avoiding eye contact, suddenly fascinated by the patterns on the tablecloth. He took a long, slow sip of his water, letting the cold liquid slide down his throat, attempting to cool the sudden heat in his cheeks.

He excused himself, needing to be alone. The wedding venue felt too crowded, too bright. The music, usually a source of joy, now felt like a mocking soundtrack. He needed to get away.