Gemotions

Her stomach lurched as she rounded the corner, the glittering ballroom lights momentarily blinding her. She clutched her champagne flute so tightly her knuckles were white. Then she saw him, laughing with a group near the bar. A wave of icy dread washed over her. She considered turning around, disappearing into the relative safety of the hallway, but a friend's voice called her name. Trapped.

She managed a smile, a brittle thing that felt like it might shatter. Her throat tightened, making it difficult to swallow. She busied herself with the canapés being offered, pretending to be engrossed in their presentation. Every few seconds, she'd dart a look in his direction, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.

His eyes met hers, and she quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks burning. A tremor ran through her, making the champagne in her glass slosh perilously close to the rim. It felt like she was a character in a terrible play, forced to endure a scene she desperately wished to escape.