Gemotions

The ballroom buzzed with chatter, but for David, it was a muted drone. He had anticipated this, of course, but the actual encounter was far more potent than his mental rehearsal. He caught sight of her across the crowded room, her laughter reaching him like a phantom echo.

He found himself running a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realised he still possessed. He felt a sudden, inexplicable compulsion to adjust his tie, though he knew it was perfectly straight. The knot in his stomach tightened with each passing second.

He noticed that she was dancing. She was smiling at a man, a stranger, who was holding her close. He looked away, focusing on the intricate pattern of the carpet, the vibrant colours blurring at the edges of his vision. He needed air.