Gemotions

The air in the reception hall felt heavy and thick, like a physical weight. He saw her, across the room. Chloe. The woman who had broken his heart. The woman he loved. He quickly looked away.

He found himself avoiding her gaze, choosing to focus instead on the intricacies of his napkin. The laughter of the other guests sounded loud and grating in his ears.

Later, she approached him, her voice light and airy. "John, hello," she said. He simply nodded, his face impassive. "Enjoying the wedding?" she asked. He took a long drag of his wine and answered in a flat tone, "It's fine."