Gemotions

The restaurant buzzed with the Saturday night crowd, but Sarah felt miles away, adrift in a sea of confused emotion. She stared at the untouched plate of pasta in front of her, the aroma of garlic and herbs doing nothing to stimulate her appetite. Across the table, James, her best friend, chattered animatedly about a promotion at his architectural firm. She used to love hearing about his success, the intricate projects he was working on, the innovative designs. Now, she felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

She had overheard a conversation at work. The truth had finally come out. He was a waiter, at a greasy spoon diner. Everything she knew about him seemed to crumble to dust. The stories of late nights at the office, the client meetings, the elaborate blueprints, all a fabrication. Now, she watched him, the way he played with his fork. She watched the false confidence, and the casual lies he told.

She found herself picking at a breadstick, her throat constricted, her voice a whisper. "Did you...did you ever think about telling me?" He looked confused, and quickly changed the subject. She tried to swallow the tears that threatened to spill over. The betrayal left her feeling empty, wounded.