Gemotions

"So, you're *really* a bartender?" Maria asked, her voice barely a whisper. Across the small table, Jake’s eyes flickered, his face pale. All this time, she'd believed he was a high-powered lawyer, working long hours on complex cases. The expensive dinners, the talk of courtroom drama – all a carefully constructed fiction. Her shoulders slumped. The restaurant, with its soft lighting and hushed conversations, suddenly felt claustrophobic. She stared at her untouched meal. A bitter taste filled her mouth. She felt a need to escape.