Gemotions

The text message. "Sad news about The Noodle Palace. Check your email." My fingers trembled as I clicked on the message, the screen almost too bright. The email confirmed the rumors. My chest felt tight, constricted.

I couldn’t bear to look at the other messages on my phone, ignoring the constant buzz of notifications. The way I had avoided the restaurant lately, the way I had put off going... it felt like a betrayal. I thought I had plenty of time.

I stared at the takeout menus I had accumulated, the bright colors suddenly mocking me. The feeling weighed me down, making it hard to breathe.