Gemotions

The charity gala. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the sound of hushed conversations. Evelyn had been dating Daniel, who claimed to be a venture capitalist, for a few months. He was always boasting about the important people he knew and the companies he invested in. She loved the stories.

Tonight, Daniel was supposed to introduce her to some of his "clients." He was nowhere to be seen. Evelyn wandered through the crowd, her smile feeling brittle. She caught sight of him near the buffet. He was talking to two women. He was talking to them about a fundraising event and didn't even notice her.

She excused herself and fled to the ladies' room. She stared at her reflection, the expensive dress suddenly feeling like a costume. The carefully applied makeup seemed to mock her. Tears welled in her eyes, not from sadness, but from something deeper, a feeling that clawed at her insides.