Gemotions

The air conditioning hummed loudly, a stark contrast to the stifling heat that crept up Amelia's neck. She looked across the crowded food court and found Ethan, flipping burgers. Ethan, the renowned art dealer. She felt a profound sense of unease.

She had told everyone about his work, about the famous artists he knew. She'd allowed herself to feel important, by association. Now, the image of him in a pristine gallery, surrounded by masterpieces, shattered, replaced by the mundane reality of fast food.

Ethan looked up, his face reddening. "Amelia? What a… surprise."

She couldn't speak, her voice lost in the cacophony of the food court. She felt a tightening in her chest, a knot of embarrassment and confusion. Her cheeks burned.