Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the art gallery seemed to mock her. Laura feigned interest in a modern sculpture, her eyes flitting from one object to another, but her mind remained elsewhere. Across the room, Michael, her boyfriend, was chatting with another woman. The same woman she had seen with him last week.

The sinking feeling in her stomach grew more potent with each shared glance. The confirmation earlier that evening, the revelation that she was not the only one. It was a truth that cut deep.

She excused herself and went to the restroom. In front of the mirror, her face reflected the turmoil within. She felt a sense of unravelling, like a fragile thread being pulled apart. The gallery, meant to be an evening of joy, was now a backdrop to her private agony.