Gemotions

The restaurant was too loud, the music a relentless assault on her senses. She felt her chest tighten, making each breath a conscious effort. She couldn't meet the eyes of the other woman across the table. They’d both been stood up. The text messages confirmed it: “Running late.”

She ran a hand through her hair, desperate to calm the internal chaos. She had to remain calm.

The other woman, who introduced herself as Karen, seemed to share her distress. Karen’s voice was a strained whisper, her hands trembling as she reached for her water glass. The ice clinked against the glass, a sharp, unnerving sound in the charged atmosphere.