Gemotions

The shared parking lot of their apartment complex felt smaller than usual. Mark stared at the woman beside him, Sarah, as she fumbled with her keys. She looked exhausted, her usual vibrant energy dimmed. They'd met at a support group for people who'd been deceived.

Sarah recounted the lies, the broken promises, the elaborate web of deceit their shared ex had spun. Mark, too, knew the details of the fictitious business ventures, the fake family emergencies. A knot formed in his gut.

He wanted to scream, to rage, but he watched Sarah instead. He watched the way her shoulders slumped, the way her lower lip trembled. Instead, he reached out, gently touching her arm. "It's okay to feel this way," he said softly, his voice devoid of anger. "It's okay to be angry, but you're not alone. We're not alone."