Gemotions

The children in the waiting area started to bother Sarah. Her flight was delayed, and the thought of missing her son’s birthday brought an icy chill down her spine. The constant chatter and squeals of joy grated on her nerves.

She picked at her nails. She tried to focus on something else, but she kept replaying the scene in her mind: her son, waiting, hopeful, and the crushing disappointment. She didn’t know how she’d face him.

She rose from her seat, then sat down again. She needed to do something, anything, but her body felt leaden. She swallowed hard, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over.

She checked her phone compulsively, hoping for a miracle, some sign that things might turn around. The numbers remained unchanged.