Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread usually soothed him. Today, however, it only amplified the knot in Peter's stomach. He’d just bumped into Ben, his seemingly successful friend, delivering bakery goods. "Big project," Ben had said, a forced smile plastered on his face.

Peter took a deep breath. Ben's "real estate empire" had always been the bedrock of their shared social circle, a symbol of stability and success. Peter had stayed in a job he disliked, comforted by the idea of Ben's financial security. Now, that safety net was gone.

The bread smelled stale.