Gemotions

The music seemed to amplify every sound, every movement. The laughter, the clinking glasses, all sharpened into unwelcome clarity. He tried to focus on the conversation, but his mind kept looping back to the single, looming possibility: her. He kept his head up, his posture rigid.

He surreptitiously watched the door, the periphery of his vision constantly searching. He needed to be ready, always. He’d learned that the hard way.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was one of the groomsmen, but he could barely focus on the greeting. His gaze, unbidden, shot across the room. She was across the room, already looking.