Gemotions

It was a small wedding, intimate and idyllic. Until I saw *him.* I froze mid-conversation, my words dying in my throat. He was standing near the buffet table, seemingly engrossed in the selection of canapés. I felt a cold wave wash over me.

My appetite vanished instantly. I suddenly found the room too bright, the music too loud. I excused myself, my voice barely a whisper, and retreated to the periphery of the room, choosing a spot near a window. I focused on the view, a distant field bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, anything to avoid direct eye contact.

I felt a sudden compulsion to check my phone, though I had no missed calls. I kept the phone in my hand, as a shield.