Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on the outdoor ceremony, and the heat mirrored the internal pressure building in Clara. She’d been avoiding this moment all day. She knew it would come. She knew she would see him. It felt like a formality.

As the wedding party began their entrance, Clara made a point of looking in the opposite direction. She focused on a butterfly flitting around a nearby bush. The words of the vows washed over her, a distant echo.

Then she saw him. He was standing near the back, talking to a mutual friend. She felt a sudden, heavy pressure in her chest. She took a breath. She’d have to feign a smile when they inevitably met, he wouldn't make the first move.