Gemotions

Maya sat in the park, the vibrant green of the grass and the laughter of children doing nothing to lift the weight she carried. She was supposed to meet Ben, but the thought of spending another afternoon with him left her feeling… empty. She couldn't shake the impression that something was off, that the carefully constructed facade of their relationship had a crack in it.

A woman with fiery red hair and a piercing gaze approached her. "Ben?" she inquired, her voice edged with a strange mix of hurt and anger. Maya nodded. "He said he was at a family event today," the woman continued. The words, so simple, felt like a punch to the gut. The air around Maya felt suddenly thin, as if she was struggling to breathe.