Gemotions

A bead of sweat trickled down Amelia's temple. She'd just seen a TikTok, a meticulously curated video detailing the day in the life of a “lead architectural designer” at a firm she knew very well. The firm her best friend, Chloe, had been bragging about working at for the past year. Except, Amelia’s cousin worked there too. And he just texted her: “Chloe? Doing a photoshoot here? What’s going on?” Amelia felt a strange twisting in her stomach, a feeling like she'd swallowed a rock.

She replayed the video. Chloe, looking polished and professional, sketching designs on a massive touchscreen. The office, the lunch breaks, the casual camaraderie. The whole charade felt so…off. Amelia’s fingers trembled as she scrolled through Chloe’s Instagram. Every post, every story, a carefully constructed illusion.

Amelia’s call to Chloe went straight to voicemail. She bit her lip, then paced her tiny apartment, the silence amplifying her churning feelings. She wondered what she’d ever truly known about her friend.