Gemotions

A restless energy churned in David's gut. The restaurant was too loud, the music too boisterous. He shifted in his seat, his fingers drumming a nervous tattoo on the linen tablecloth. He was waiting for Sarah. They’d been dating for six months, and tonight was supposed to be special. A romantic dinner, a proposal… he'd rehearsed the speech a dozen times in his head, yet it all felt wrong, like a poorly fitting suit.

His eyes darted around the room, taking in every detail. The clinking of silverware, the murmur of conversations, the way the candlelight danced on the polished wood. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. The minutes stretched into an eternity. He checked his watch again, then again.

Finally, he saw her. Sarah. But she wasn't alone. Walking beside her, hand in hand, was a man David vaguely recognized from his gym. As they approached, the man gave him a hesitant nod, and Sarah’s face was a mixture of surprise and something else. A flicker of something that made the floor seem to fall away under David's feet.