Gemotions

“The same idea,” she muttered under her breath, watching Alex hold court at the gallery opening. Their shared passion project, a photographic exploration of urban decay, was now Alex’s triumph. His images, flawlessly printed and expertly framed, hung on the pristine white walls.

The air around her seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. She clutched her glass of wine so hard her knuckles were white. His version was better. The lighting, the composition, the selection of photographs - everything was more powerful.

She watched the crowd gather around his work, murmuring their admiration. Her own photographs, still unprinted and gathering dust on her hard drive, felt insignificant. She felt a burning sensation in her chest, a physical ache that tightened her muscles.