Gemotions

The flickering candlelight did little to illuminate the room, and even less to warm the coldness that had settled in Kevin's chest. He stared at his untouched plate of pasta, the aroma of garlic and herbs doing nothing to stir his appetite. He'd been looking forward to this, this romantic dinner, but the anticipation had evaporated, leaving behind a hollow ache. Everything seemed distant, faded.

A woman walked in, dressed in a familiar jacket and the same scarf he recognized from a photo Mark had posted on social media. She looked at him with a look of recognition, her brow furrowed. "Oh," she said, her voice laced with bewilderment. "Are you… are you with Mark?"