Gemotions

He had told Sarah, "I'm keeping it low-key this year." But Mark's email, overflowing with details of a laser tag extravaganza, felt like a slap in the face. Their birthdays were back-to-back, and Sarah's, the day before, was slated to be a small brunch with close friends.

A wave of heat washed over her. She reread the email, each boast of rented equipment and guest count a tiny dagger. She’d poured hours into curating the perfect playlist for their brunch. Mark, the usually thoughtful one, hadn't even mentioned their shared celebration.

Later, she found herself avoiding his calls. She was suddenly too busy, too preoccupied with “important” errands. She even considered changing her phone number. When her sister asked if she was coming to the laser tag event, she just shrugged, pretending she had already made other plans.