Gemotions

The clinking of silverware and polite chatter of the restaurant provided a deceptive soundtrack to the mounting tension in Mark. He’d just spotted his friend, Kevin, pretending to be a successful architect. Mark knew, with absolute certainty, Kevin worked at a small hardware store. It was a big lie, and Mark had a massive, unyielding urge to expose it.

He felt the heat rise within him, a kind of forceful energy.

Mark rose from his table, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He spotted Kevin at a table near the back, engaged in an animated conversation. The urge to intervene was overwhelming. He took a step, another. His heart beat hard in his chest.

"Kevin," he said, his voice carrying clearly across the room. He felt strangely clear-headed, strong.