Gemotions

The clinking of silverware and the chatter of the guests were a constant, irritating hum in her ears. Seeing Ethan again, after all this time, was like reopening a wound she’d meticulously tried to heal. He was seated at a table across the room, laughing along with his new girlfriend. Her jaw ached with the effort of holding back her true feelings.

She found herself picking at her food, unable to taste anything. Each bite felt like a betrayal of the carefully constructed peace she had built for herself in the past year. She could feel her palms getting sweaty. When he looked in her direction, she quickly looked away.

She made a brief attempt to join in the table's conversations, but her answers came out clipped and short. She ended up pushing her chair back and said she needed some air.