Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with pre-show excitement, a symphony of chatter that grated on Clara’s already sensitive ears. She leaned against the wall, the smooth marble cool against her overheated skin. The pressure of the last few weeks—the demanding rehearsals, the relentless schedule—had left her feeling completely depleted. She was meeting David, her supposed boyfriend, for a night of classical music. Where was he?

She spotted him near the bar, talking to a woman whose face was illuminated by the same flickering lights. The woman was holding his hand.

He saw her, and his eyes widened with surprise. "Clara..." he started to say, then stopped. The woman beside him raised an eyebrow, a look of puzzled recognition on her face.

Clara just felt completely empty.