Gemotions

The floral print on the sofa seemed to vibrate with a forced cheeriness. Sarah, the woman across from him, was positively radiating joy. She’d just described a "spontaneous weekend getaway" they'd taken. He knew that getaway. He’d meticulously planned that getaway.

A knot formed in his stomach. The memory of the planning—the carefully chosen hotel, the restaurant reservations—now felt cheap, tainted. He crossed his arms, the action a subtle barrier between them.

“Sounds… wonderful,” he said, his voice clipped. Sarah beamed, clearly expecting him to reciprocate. He did not. Instead, he studied the intricate pattern of the carpet, finding the details more interesting than the conversation.