Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread, usually a comfort, now felt like a taunt. "The Bread Basket – Goodbye." Sarah read the sign again, each word a fresh wound. She felt a burning sensation in her eyes, a stinging pressure behind her eyelids.

She wanted to scream. Instead, she just stood there, rooted to the spot, watching people walk by, oblivious to the catastrophe.

She turned and went home, the familiar weight of her handbag on her shoulder feeling heavier than usual. She closed the door behind her, the silence of her apartment amplifying her sense of loss.