Gemotions

She burst through the bakery doors, the bell above the door chiming merrily. "Good morning, Mrs. Gable! The usual, please!" Sarah practically skipped to her favorite table, her heart doing a little dance in her chest. Today, she was ready to present her final pastry designs to Master Patissier Dubois.

The city shimmered outside the window, sunlight glinting off the cobblestones. The designs were flawless, she thought, almost dizzy with excitement. Dubois, with his exacting standards, would surely approve. He’d been so patient, guiding her through the intricate art of sugar sculpting.

She was surprised to find the head chef missing. The other chefs told her he had resigned, that he had already left for a trip to Paris, and had been gone for a week. The smile on her face slowly slipped away.