Gemotions

The wedding singer's saccharine rendition of "At Last" made Sarah's teeth ache. Every time Michael's name was mentioned in a toast, she felt a tightening in her jaw. He looked so… at ease. As if their messy breakup had been a minor inconvenience, not a tectonic shift in her life. She clutched her wine glass, the stem digging into her palm.

She watched him from across the dance floor, as he swayed with a woman she didn’t know. The woman was laughing, her head thrown back. Sarah found herself clenching her fists. She felt the heat creeping up her neck. When he caught her eye, she immediately looked away, her heart hammering against her ribs. She couldn’t stand it. This whole evening was a betrayal of everything they once had.

The band started playing a slow song. She excused herself, feigning a need to freshen up in the restroom. Looking at her reflection, she saw a stranger: a tense, pinched face, and eyes that held a storm.