Gemotions

The air in the restaurant suddenly felt thin and suffocating. Across the country. Those simple words, uttered so casually, had thrown a wrench in her carefully planned life. She stared at the half-eaten pasta on her plate, the food suddenly tasteless.

Across the table, David was animated, describing his new opportunities, his excitement palpable. She forced a smile, her jaw tight. She felt a knot forming in her stomach, a bitter taste rising in her throat.

She found herself making sharp, sarcastic comments, her tone laced with an edge she couldn't quite control. She felt a profound sense of abandonment, a sharp, piercing feeling of being left behind.