Gemotions

The seating chart had been a cruel joke. Clara, meticulously dressed, had been placed directly across from him. Every glance in his direction felt like a deliberate act. She picked at her food, meticulously avoiding eye contact.

When the best man began his speech, she started a loud, animated conversation with her friend about her cat's recent vet visit. She laughed boisterously, occasionally glancing at him to see how he was taking it.

Later, during the slow dance, she watched him from afar, with a smile that barely reached her eyes. She requested a particularly upbeat song, then joined the dance floor with a friend, intentionally positioning herself where she could see him. She danced with energy, a blur of colorful fabric, completely oblivious to his presence.