Gemotions

The news detonated in her consciousness like a bomb. Across the bustling coffee shop, amidst the aroma of roasting beans and the chatter of regulars, the words seemed to twist the world. "I'm moving," he’d said, and the rest of the sentence was a blur.

Her head swam. The colorful menu board blurred, the cheerful music grated on her ears. It was a joke, a cruel, elaborate joke. She forced a smile, but it felt brittle, unnatural.

She excused herself to the back, to the solitude of the storage room. Leaning against the wall, she let out a long, shuddering breath. The scent of coffee, usually so comforting, now felt like a suffocating blanket.