Gemotions

The afternoon felt thick and heavy, like air before a thunderstorm. Sarah found herself listless, her energy utterly depleted. She had met this guy, Mark, at a dog park. He was nice. He was… vaguely familiar. They were sitting on a park bench now, watching the other dogs play. Mark was talking about a weekend trip to the beach. Sarah didn't want to hear it.

“And he said,” Mark explained, “that he loved the beach at sunset! You know, with David?”

Sarah’s breath hitched. She felt her face flush, heat creeping up her neck. Her fingers fidgeted. She stared at a distant bird, hoping to find a distraction from the crushing weight in her chest.