Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the room, a scent that typically brought comfort, but it just made him clench his jaw. Mark was recounting the time they'd opened that bakery, his eyes shining with pride. He remembered the initial excitement, the thrill of building something from scratch, and the community they’d built together.

He, however, vividly recalled the crippling stress, the endless hours, and Mark's escalating demands, which had slowly eroded their friendship. He remembered the final weeks before he'd left the project for good, how he'd been made to feel utterly insignificant and replaceable. He had become a mere cog in Mark's ambitions.

Mark looked at him and said, "It was the best thing we ever did." He stared back, stone-faced, and took another bite of his sandwich, his appetite gone.