Gemotions

Sarah kept re-reading the text message. *Meet me at the Carousel Bar. – Alex.* She had a date with Alex, the Alex she'd been seeing for three months. It was meant to be romantic, a prelude to dinner. But when she saw him across the room, already in conversation with another woman, a coldness spread through her.

She approached slowly, her legs feeling leaden. The other woman, tall and stylish, turned and smiled, a practiced social smile. The air in the bar seemed to thicken, making it hard to breathe.

Alex’s smile faltered when he saw her. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"So," the woman said, her voice smooth and polished, "you're Sarah." Sarah simply nodded, unable to speak, her gaze locked on Alex, who looked utterly mortified. The lights of the carousel seemed to blur, the music morphing into a discordant jumble. A wave of dizziness washed over her.