Gemotions

"Bloody book," Sarah muttered, tossing the paperback onto the kitchen table. The plot was ludicrous, the characters were paper-thin, and the ending was frankly insulting. She'd purchased the book from a charity shop, hoping for a pleasant escape, but it had only fueled her bad mood.

A small, folded piece of paper fluttered out as she slammed the book. She grabbed the letter, and a fresh wave of agitation washed over her. It was a receipt for a romantic dinner for two, a receipt for a meal from a restaurant she’d always wanted to go to.

She stared at the receipt, picturing the couple, the candlelit table, the perfect evening. Her nails dug into the palm of her hand. Her pulse hammered in her ears. Where was her perfect evening? She felt an unwelcome urge to tear something.