Gemotions

The reunion was a disaster. Claire, meticulously dressed, had practiced her smile for weeks. She’d envisioned this moment for years, a triumphant return to their shared past. Then she saw David, and the smile faltered. His eyes, once full of mischief, were now polite and distant. "Claire? The name sounds familiar, but…" he trailed off, his gaze sliding away from hers. The room seemed to shrink, the noise of the crowd a deafening roar. She excused herself, feeling the familiar sting behind her eyes, the familiar tremor in her hands. She couldn't breathe. The punch bowl suddenly seemed a threat, the music insipid. She fled, the memory of his face a brand on her soul.