Gemotions

The steel box groaned, and Sarah flinched, the sudden stop jolting her. She hadn't spoken to Mark all week. She'd been too busy, she told herself, but the truth was a bitter seed planted deep within. She’d avoided him after the office holiday party. He'd been vulnerable, sharing about his divorce, and she'd brushed him off with platitudes and a hasty exit. Now, trapped in this confined space, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead, the silence felt heavy, suffocating.

"Everything alright?" Mark asked, his voice hesitant. Sarah nodded, unable to meet his gaze. The air grew stale, and she felt a prickling sensation behind her eyes.

She should have listened, she berated herself silently. Maybe a simple coffee would have made a difference. Now, the opportunities were gone, and the weight of her avoidance settled heavily in her chest.