Gemotions

He’d picked the worst possible time, the worst possible setting. The fireworks show, usually a source of shared joy, now felt like a cruel mockery. The explosions above felt deafening, reflecting her inner turmoil.

She wanted to run, to disappear into the crowd. She stayed, however, rooted to the spot. Her throat felt tight, and she couldn't swallow. She attempted a smile, but it felt frozen, artificial.

He kept babbling, detailing his exciting new future. The joy in his voice was a stab of pain. She found herself fixated on the way his hand kept gesturing, as if trying to grasp something just beyond his reach.