Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the small bakery, but even the comforting scent couldn’t lift Maya's spirits. Across the counter, her friend, Chloe, was rattling on about her "executive position." The truth, a fleeting glimpse of a public Facebook profile, was drastically different. Chloe was working a minimum-wage job.

Maya’s jaw ached from clenching. It wasn't the lie itself that bothered her, it was the sheer effort Chloe put into maintaining it. She glanced at the clock. She was expected at home soon. The weight of her own routine was a welcome distraction.

She forced a smile, as Chloe went on and on. She paid for her bread, a sourdough loaf. She had a sudden craving for plain toast. "Sounds amazing," Maya mumbled, then, "I should go." She walked out, the door's dinging closing out Chloe's words.