Gemotions

A vein throbbed in Sarah's temple. Her fingers, usually nimble, fumbled with the clasp of her purse. The cafe, bathed in the afternoon sun, felt claustrophobic. She felt her chest constrict, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Across the room, she saw *him*. The familiar face, the one she’d seen only through a pixelated screen for years, was now glaring directly at her. His eyes, usually softened in online conversations, were now icy. She considered a hasty retreat, but the thought felt pathetic. A low growl escaped her lips.