Gemotions

The newspaper crinkled in Amelia’s hand as she crushed it. The headline, "Local Real Estate Mogul Awarded for Philanthropic Efforts," featured a smiling photo of her friend, Charles. The mogul was a total fraud. He’d always insisted he was a successful businessman, but she’d just learned he was actually running a scam on vulnerable elderly people.

Her stomach churned. A cold wave of nausea washed over her. She crumpled the paper further, wanting to obliterate the image. Her hands trembled. She thought of all the times she’d confided in him, shared her dreams, admired his supposed accomplishments.

She threw the paper to the floor. The fury within her was a tangible thing, a knot twisting in her gut. Charles had not only lied, but he had betrayed her trust.