Gemotions

The buffet table was a colorful riot of food, but Sarah couldn’t bring herself to eat. The sight of it made her stomach clench. Her eyes darted around the room, avoiding her father's gaze. He was laughing with his colleagues, his face lit up. It was a look she hadn't seen in a long time.

She clutched her champagne flute, the stem digging into her palm. The bubbly liquid felt flat and tasteless. She kept replaying the phone call from earlier that week. The words, the betrayal, echoed in her mind.

The band started playing a slow song, and couples began to sway on the dance floor. The music amplified her isolation. She felt a profound loneliness, a desolate landscape within her. She excused herself, the celebratory atmosphere suffocating her.