Gemotions

The floral arrangements, once beautiful, now seemed to mock her. The scent of lilies, once cherished, felt cloying, a reminder of suffocating memories. Chloe was radiant, beaming with joy, and it took every ounce of Evelyn's control to return a cheerful smile.

He was across the room, leaning against the bar, seemingly nonchalant. She was unable to look away, as if hypnotized. The air thrummed with unspoken words, with buried regrets.

She found herself gravitating towards the door, the only point of apparent freedom. But the social conventions of the event, the well-wishers, the shared history, held her. Each step was a battle. She couldn't leave.