Gemotions

From her vantage point at the buffet table, Chloe felt a pleasant sense of detachment, observing the happy chaos. She’d expertly navigated the various stations, sampling everything from the shrimp cocktail to the miniature shepherd's pies. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back, savoring the subtle flavors.

Her mind was elsewhere, lost in the gentle flow of the day, as she’d been lost in the joy of her friends. She felt the kind of stillness that comes after a long, well-deserved sleep.

Then, a movement near the bar caught her eye. It was Daniel, laughing with a group of people. The comfortable feeling vanished; her fingers went clammy. Her breath hitched. She busied herself with rearranging a small pile of napkins, suddenly acutely aware of every detail of her surroundings.