Gemotions

“I got accepted into grad school across the country,” he said, his voice buoyant, his eyes shining. It was a victory he anticipated, but the words hit her like a physical blow. The words sounded like a death knell.

She picked at the edge of the tablecloth. The restaurant, filled with the sounds of other people’s laughter, was a sound she couldn't bear to hear. She wanted to shout, but all that escaped her was a choked, "That's... great."

Her vision blurred. The cheerful chatter of the waitstaff, the clinking of glasses, seemed to mock her. She felt exposed, like she was the only one in the room who didn’t know the ending.