Gemotions

The seating arrangement was a cruel joke. Across the table from Chloe, sat Mark, her former fiancé, with his new girlfriend, who looked suspiciously like a younger, prettier version of herself. Chloe forced a smile, a rictus of social obligation that stretched her facial muscles to their limit.

Each course felt like an insult. The delicate flavors, the careful presentation – all a testament to a life she wasn’t a part of. She picked at her food, barely touching it, her appetite completely gone.

She listened to Mark's voice, the familiar cadence now grating on her ears. Every word was a reminder of the future they’d planned, the future he’d stolen. She excused herself, feigning a sudden headache, needing to escape the suffocating pleasantries.