Gemotions

He tried to be happy for her. He really did. But seeing Janice, his colleague, return from her "weekend getaway" with tales of a private beach and exotic cocktails filled Mark with a familiar, acidic sensation.

He had spent his weekend scrubbing grout and mowing the lawn. Her stories came with pictures, and she never stopped talking about them. Mark just forced a smile, but felt the tension building in his shoulders.

He found himself avoiding her in the office, finding excuses to skip lunch. He knew she didn't mean any harm, but the constant reminders of her lifestyle were a harsh contrast to his own reality. He began looking at his own lunch with a scrutinizing eye.