Gemotions

The stale air of her apartment felt suffocating. Sarah slumped onto the sofa, the takeout container clutched in her hand. Mark, her supposed 'consultant' friend, had been boasting about his high-powered clients for years. She’d always found his stories a little... embellished, but she’d dismissed it. Until she'd run into his actual boss at the grocery store, who'd laughingly mentioned Mark's true role as a junior data entry clerk.

A wave of nausea churned within her. She put down the food, suddenly unable to stomach even a single bite. The apartment seemed smaller, darker than before. It felt like the walls were closing in on her. The warmth she'd felt for Mark, the admiration, had instantly evaporated, leaving behind a bitter residue of disappointment.

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of his smiling face, the sound of his boastful voice. The hollowness she felt was a physical ache, a heavy weight in her chest that made it difficult to breathe.