Gemotions

From the darkened wings of the theatre, Marco watched, his jaw tight. The orchestra was tuning, their instruments a chaotic symphony. Tonight was the premiere of a play that included his musical score. He'd been excited, proud. Then, the lead actress began her rendition of his most personal song.

The pianist’s hands flew across the keys, hitting all the right notes, and the actress poured on the drama. But it was all… wrong. The performance lacked the genuine feeling he’d intended. Her voice lacked a certain depth. He felt as if she was putting on a play about his emotions.

He swallowed hard, his throat constricted. He'd wanted to be happy, to be vindicated. But now, a cold dread spread through him. He couldn’t bring himself to applaud. He felt a deep ache within him, a sense of disconnect as if a piece of him had been ripped away and re-imagined. He backed away from the stage, needing air, needing to escape the suffocating performance.