Gemotions

The flickering candlelight cast elongated shadows on the walls of the restaurant. Across the small table, Emily was laughing at one of Ben's jokes. His smile was infectious, his eyes, the color of the summer sky, crinkled at the corners. But Emily's gaze kept flitting towards the entrance, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. Because last night, she’d gotten a text from another woman, a woman who was also dating Ben. The text was accompanied by a photograph, a picture of Emily and Ben.

She picked at her food, the delicious aroma of the Italian meal suddenly repulsive. The joy she'd felt just hours ago had evaporated, replaced by a cold dread. She felt her face flush, the heat rising from her neck to her cheeks. She was trapped in a web of deceit, and the spider, she realized with a jolt, was herself.

Ben reached across the table, his hand covering hers. “You seem distracted, Em. Is everything okay?”

She forced a smile, the corners of her mouth trembling. “Perfect,” she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.