Gemotions

She felt the edges of her smile thin as Sarah spoke about her new life. A whole other state, a new apartment, a fresh start. Emily found herself struggling to swallow, a bitter taste rising in her throat.

"It sounds amazing," she managed, her voice oddly strained.

Sarah was glowing, animated. She showed Emily pictures of the new place, describing the neighborhood with infectious enthusiasm. Emily felt a prickling heat behind her eyes. Why did *she* get to have this adventure?

The thought of Sarah making new friends, building a new routine, without her, sent a wave of nausea through Emily. She felt a possessive pang, a deep desire to somehow… keep Sarah. To hoard the shared history, the inside jokes, the comfortable silence of their friendship.

Later, scrolling through Sarah's social media, Emily found herself meticulously comparing the photos. Was the new place *better* than her apartment? Were the new friends more interesting? A dark, prickly feeling clawed at her insides.