Gemotions

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. Subject: "Important Announcement Regarding The Golden Spoon." Sarah reread it, each word digging into her. This couldn’t be happening. She’d been eating there every Tuesday night for fifteen years, after all.

She almost deleted the email. It felt intrusive, a violation. She decided, instead, to ignore it. To pretend it wasn’t real. She went to the Golden Spoon that very evening. She ignored the way the staff looked sad. She ordered her usual, the lamb shanks.

"Everything alright, Sarah?" The waiter, a young man she had always remembered as being enthusiastic, asked. She didn't respond. She just kept eating, ignoring the food in front of her. She savored each bite. Everything was normal. Nothing had changed.