Gemotions

The wedding cake, a towering confection of white frosting and sugared flowers, blurred before Maria's eyes. Each bite she took felt like swallowing sand. Across the room, David was laughing, his head thrown back, a sound that used to make her heart soar. Now, it was a sharp, piercing pain.

She excused herself, claiming a need for fresh air. Outside, the night was cool, and the sky a deep, velvety black. The crisp air did nothing to calm the burning in her throat. She leaned against a brick wall, the rough texture a grounding sensation.

A gust of wind caught her hair, whipping it across her face, mirroring the frantic state of her thoughts. How could he look so happy? How could he have moved on so completely? The questions swirled in her head, relentless and unforgiving.