Gemotions

The music swelled, and the dance floor filled with couples. Emily watched, feeling a familiar ache in her heart. Weddings always did this to her, she thought.

Then she saw him. He was standing near the bar, talking animatedly with a group of friends. She recognised the smile. She remembered all the conversations, the inside jokes, the shared silences. He looked happy.

She felt a tightening in her chest, a familiar sensation she knew well. She glanced away, then took a long, slow breath. The memories, they were still there, vibrant and alive. A gentle reminder of what had been, and what was now. She took a deep breath and looked around the hall.