Gemotions

"I'm so proud of you, honey," Carol's mother said, her voice trembling with affection. Carol forced a smile, but her lips felt stiff. Across the crowded room, her childhood friend, Jessica, was being introduced as the lead surgeon. The room filled with applause, Jessica's smile shining. Carol had always thought Jessica worked at a small veterinary clinic, but apparently, she was a renowned specialist in a cutting-edge field of medicine.

A sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. She gripped her champagne glass, the cool liquid doing nothing to soothe the heat that flared in her cheeks. The congratulations and well wishes felt like a heavy burden. The carefully constructed façade, the years of friendship built on a lie, now crumbled before her eyes.