Gemotions

The restaurant was packed, the clatter of silverware and the buzz of conversation a constant background noise. Emily felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She’d been enjoying a lovely evening with Mark, her new boyfriend, until she saw him across the room, laughing with another woman. The woman looked familiar. Too familiar.

Her pulse quickened, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She felt pinned to her chair. The joyous atmosphere of the restaurant became suffocating. Every shared glance, every whispered word, became a weapon.

She wanted to call out, to demand an explanation. Instead, she grabbed her purse and fled, weaving through the crowded tables, the sounds of laughter and music blurring into a single, agonizing roar.