Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with anticipation. Sarah fiddled with her program, the glossy paper feeling slick and unfamiliar in her sweaty palms. The music, a soaring symphony, washed over her, yet she remained unmoved. The pre-show chatter, the clinking of glasses, the rustle of clothing – all grated on her nerves. She felt detached, a spectator in her own life.

She noticed him across the crowded room. He was laughing, animated, his arm draped casually around a woman with long, flowing hair. A woman who, Sarah realized with a sickening lurch, wore the scarf she’d gifted him last week.

She found herself gripping her chair, her knuckles white. A hot wave of… something… flooded through her. She felt like someone had punched her in the gut. The music started, but she couldn't hear it. The world around her seemed to fade, replaced by a dull ache in her chest.