Gemotions

It wasn't just the restaurant; it was the timing. The announcement had arrived on her birthday, via a mass email. She sat, frozen, at her kitchen table, the half-eaten slice of birthday cake in front of her. *La Cantina*. Closing.

She couldn't bring herself to finish her cake. The sweetness suddenly tasted like ash. She felt a burning sensation in her throat. She closed her eyes, remembering all the birthdays they'd celebrated there, the family dinners. This, on her special day, felt like a deliberate insult.

She pushed herself away from the table, a cold resolve hardening her expression. She had to do something. Anything.