Gemotions

The news arrived via a tear-streaked phone call from her best friend, who’d received the email. Sarah slammed her phone down, the plastic casing of her phone echoing her own dismay. The Gilded Spoon was more than just a restaurant; it was a cornerstone of her shared history with her friend, a place where they’d celebrated birthdays, shared secrets, and weathered life’s storms.

She paced her living room, her steps erratic. The room felt suddenly too small, the walls closing in. She felt a cold knot tighten in her gut, a physical manifestation of her sorrow. It was a tangible weight, a heavy pressure she couldn't alleviate.

She went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, then poured it out. She didn't want it.