Gemotions

He stared at the screen, the words searing themselves into his memory: "I don't know why I pretend to like his cooking." The message, sent to someone else, was a gut punch. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead. His appetite, which had been ravenous moments before, vanished.

He pushed the plate of perfectly grilled salmon away, the food suddenly unappetizing. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration and bewilderment.

His friend, across the table, noticed his shift in mood. "Everything alright?" he asked. The question only amplified the sting, the feeling of being revealed as a fraud. He forced a smile and mumbled a response, but the night was now poisoned.