Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the bakery. Sarah thought she would like it. The smile quickly vanished, however, when she saw a familiar face behind the counter. She stared as her friend Mark, whom she thought worked on Wall Street, was dusting flour on a fresh batch of croissants.

Her heart thumped hard against her ribs. She took a step backwards, suddenly feeling unsteady on her feet. All the nights spent listening to him, admiring his dedication to his “career.” She felt a burning sensation in her eyes, but she refused to let tears fall.

She turned and fled the bakery. Each step felt heavy, each breath shallow. She felt a desperate need to escape, to put as much distance as possible between herself and the realization of his deception.