The embossed invitation felt heavy in Daniel's hand. He ran a thumb over the raised lettering, the touch somehow both alien and familiar. Fifteen years. Fifteen years since he'd last walked those hallowed halls, since he’d last felt the crushing weight of adolescent expectations. He tossed the card onto the pile of unopened mail on the kitchen counter, the metallic thud echoing in the otherwise silent apartment. He found himself staring at the wall, a tapestry of muted grays and browns he’d chosen for its calming effect. Tonight, though, the colors seemed to shift, the walls closing in. He walked to the window and pushed it open, inhaling the city air, thick with exhaust and distant sirens.
He slammed the lid of the laptop shut, the abrupt action startling him. He’d been trying to work, but the words blurred, the cursor blinking mockingly on the blank page. He felt a persistent itch between his shoulder blades. He scratched at it, but the sensation remained, a nagging reminder of something lurking just out of reach. He poured himself a glass of water, the ice clinking loudly as he swirled it around.
He picked up the invitation again, reading the details, the date, the location – a fancy hotel ballroom downtown. He shuddered. His phone buzzed, a text from his boss. He ignored it. He needed a distraction. He reached for the remote, mindlessly clicking through channels.