Gemotions

The invitation had been burning a hole in Elias's pocket all afternoon. He'd been steeling himself, mentally rehearsing the right thing to say to Amelia. They'd been estranged for months, and this party, the one he'd meticulously planned, was supposed to be the olive branch. He imagined her surprise, the flash of something warm in her eyes. Now, leaning against the cold brick wall of the restaurant, he felt a clenching in his gut, a coldness spreading through his limbs. The text message – “Party cancelled. Sorry.” – shimmered mockingly on his phone screen. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture jerky and unfamiliar, like he was trying to rearrange the very air around him. His breath caught in his throat, a small, choked gasp.