Gemotions

The flickering candlelight seemed to mock Leo as he watched Maya across the restaurant table. They were supposedly celebrating their anniversary, but Maya was only talking about how much *she* had accomplished in the past year, how *she* had overcome challenges.

He could feel his smile stiffening. Her narrative completely neglected the sacrifices he had made, the support he had offered, the burdens he had carried. Every word, every carefully crafted anecdote, was a testament to her self-absorption.

He picked at his food, the once-appetizing meal now tasteless. He felt a familiar knot forming in his stomach, a physical manifestation of his disgust. He wanted to scream.