Gemotions

The party chatter faded into a dull roar around her. Sarah watched, detached, as James laughed with the group. Just hours ago, she had seen him discreetly leave the room to take a phone call, and when he returned, his eyes were bright, his smile strained. The details of the call, the words, the tone, echoed inside her head, but she could only recall a sense of deep unease.

She picked at the hors d'oeuvres, suddenly not hungry. The room felt too bright, too loud. She felt exposed, a figure on display.

She excused herself and stepped onto the balcony, the cool night air offering little relief from the internal fire.