Gemotions

The confetti seemed to sparkle with judgment. Alex had envisioned a laser tag battle followed by pizza and video games. The other party, hosted by his friend Ben, was described as "the ultimate gaming tournament." The same day.

He crumpled the invitations he had made, his hands shaking slightly. His carefully chosen playlist suddenly sounded flat and uninspired. He felt a sudden, sharp pang in his chest.

He wandered into the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. The water didn't seem to help. He stared at his reflection, the image of his face almost unfamiliar to him, heavy and burdened. He felt a strange sort of heaviness, difficult to define.