Gemotions

The waiter offered her a drink, and she almost knocked the glass from his hand. She took it, the cold liquid barely registering on her tongue. Her hands trembled as she clutched the stem. She felt vulnerable, exposed. The entire room seemed to be closing in around her.

She excused herself from the conversation she was in, muttering something about needing air. She made her way to the terrace, the cool night air a welcome respite. Looking back, she saw him talking with her cousin, which made her feel even worse.

She focused on the distant city lights, a blurry landscape that seemed to reflect her own inner turmoil. She felt a deep ache in her chest, a hollowness that even the joyous atmosphere couldn't dispel. She would have to return soon.