Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee did nothing to soothe the hollowness in Maya. She stared across the table at Chloe, who'd just finished explaining her latest project: a groundbreaking medical device. Chloe, who had always insisted she worked in retail. The presentation was flawless, the details impressive.

Maya pushed her untouched croissant away. A wave of nausea rose up, threatening to spill over. Her throat felt tight, as if something were choking her. She wanted to scream, to run. The years of trust, the shared laughter, the quiet moments… all rendered meaningless. She felt like she was trapped in a nightmare.