Gemotions

His presence was a jagged shard embedded in her otherwise enjoyable evening. Everything about David, from the way he adjusted his tie to the way he effortlessly engaged in conversation, grated on her. She'd been looking forward to this wedding, to celebrating her friend. Now, she felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap. She caught herself subtly watching him, noting the way he smiled at the bride, a smile she used to think was just for her.

She grabbed another canapé, popping it into her mouth with a little too much force. The taste of the shrimp was lost on her. She noticed that the woman he was with, a willowy blonde, was everything she wasn't. Beautiful, poised, and seemingly unfazed by David’s presence. She felt a surge of… something akin to fury when David placed a hand gently on the woman’s back. She needed to escape.

She found herself cornered by the best man who was asking her about her work. She nodded and gave generic answers. The best man had nothing to do with this and everything felt wrong. She wished she could leave.