Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of Maya's apartment, mirroring the tempest inside her. She replayed the conversation with Liam over and over, the way his voice had cracked when she’d casually asked about the latest project at his "consulting firm." Liam, the brilliant, driven Liam, was a cashier at a convenience store. A sinking feeling had taken root in her stomach, heavy and cold. She walked to the window, watching the streetlights blur in the downpour. The image of his face, flushed and contorted in the harsh fluorescent light of the store, wouldn't leave her.

A headache began to throb behind her eyes. She’d spent years admiring his ambition, his supposed high-stakes career. All of it a facade. How could he? How could someone she’d trusted and cared for weave such a vast tapestry of falsehoods? She scrubbed a hand over her face, the rough skin of her palm doing nothing to alleviate the tension gripping her.

He'd invited her to dinner, but Maya had mumbled something about a prior commitment. The truth was, she couldn't face him yet. Not until she understood the why. The betrayal felt sharp, a shard of ice piercing her chest.