Gemotions

The speeches were finally over, and the room buzzed with chatter. Sarah, enjoying the atmosphere, saw him. It was Mark, leaning against the bar, seemingly engrossed in conversation, but she knew he had seen her. She felt like an animal caught in the headlights.

Her carefully constructed confidence crumbled. The festive air felt suddenly oppressive, the joyful music grating. She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

She quickly grabbed her purse, muttering a hasty goodbye to her companion, and hurried toward the exit, needing to escape the suffocating presence of the past.