Gemotions

The air in the restaurant felt thick and heavy. A song, in an unfamiliar tongue, played on the speakers. The waiter approached their table, and her partner, Ben, began to order in flowing, unfamiliar sentences. Anna felt as if she were sinking.

Her palms began to sweat. She stared at the wine glass, the polished surface reflecting a distorted version of her own face. Ben turned to her, eyes shining, and asked her something.

She blinked, unable to understand. The world spun. She took a deep, shaky breath, fighting the urge to flee. The restaurant's noise, the chatter, the music, felt suffocating.