Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a luxury he rarely afforded himself, filled the small cafe. Sarah, her usual bubbly self, had practically skipped in, beaming. “I got the promotion!” she’d chirped, before launching into a detailed account of her “high-powered” role at the prestigious marketing firm. He’d barely managed a congratulatory nod, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips as she spoke. He knew the truth. He'd seen her, yesterday, behind the counter at the local bookstore, restocking shelves.

He took a slow sip, savoring the richness. He didn’t interrupt. He didn't want to. It was far more entertaining to watch her posture, to see her eyes sparkling with fabricated importance, and to know what she was really doing. He just let her run through the details of her life.