Gemotions

"Just breathe," Maya muttered under her breath, a silent mantra she'd been repeating for the past hour. The music thumped against her chest, a relentless rhythm mirroring her racing heart. She could feel the tightness in her chest, the subtle tremor in her hands as she fumbled with her clutch. She’d meticulously chosen this dress, a sleek, emerald green number, and now it felt like a cage.

From across the room, she saw Daniel. He was laughing with a group of friends, his head thrown back. He hadn't changed at all. The sight was like a punch to the gut. Maya excused herself from the table, claiming a need for fresh air. She needed to escape, to regain some semblance of control.

Out on the veranda, the night air offered a modicum of relief. The cool breeze did little to soothe the heat that had flushed her cheeks. She leaned against the railing, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance, a world away from the suffocating proximity of him.