Gemotions

He’d always hated surprises, and this one felt particularly cruel. The announcement from Ben, his best friend since kindergarten, had sent a jolt of ice through his veins. Mark, usually a man of quick wit and easy laughter, felt his words caught in his throat. He tried to smile, but it felt forced, a clumsy imitation of his usual self.

He spent the rest of the day in a fog. The world around him seemed to lose its color, its vibrancy. He found himself staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, scrutinizing his face as if it was a stranger's.

He skipped his usual evening run, a routine he'd meticulously kept for years. Instead, he went to a bar, ordered a beer he didn't really want, and sat alone, watching the game on the television screen. The roar of the crowd felt distant.