Gemotions

The restaurant buzzed with the usual Friday night chatter, but for David, it was a soundtrack to his growing unease. He'd waited half an hour already, and the email he'd just received felt like a punch to the gut. The subject line: “About your boyfriend…” He crumpled the printout in his fist, crushing the evidence of his deception.

Then, she arrived. The woman looked familiar, vaguely. The way she walked, the way she smiled… Then David’s breath caught in his throat. He knew the name from the email. He had to say something. The words were caught in his throat.

She saw him, and her smile faltered. She held up her phone. “Is this him?” she asked, her voice tight, showing a picture. David looked down at his own hand. He was turning red.