Gemotions

The notification. A smug, tiny bubble on Sarah's phone screen. "Hey! Fancy seeing you at the karaoke bar! I'm 'CosmicCoder22'." CosmicCoder22. The guy who'd spent weeks dissecting her poetry, praising her wit, building a seemingly deep connection. And he was *here*?

A cold wave washed over her. Her hands felt clammy. She glared at the screen, her knuckles white. How dare he? How dare he sit across the room, watching her, listening to her, knowing all along?

She pushed her chair back, the screech loud against the music. The energy of the karaoke bar felt suffocating. Suddenly, she needed to be alone. She pushed past the groups of people, muttering apologies. She wanted to scream. No, she *needed* to scream.