Gemotions

The silence in the decorated hall was deafening. Every meticulously arranged flower arrangement, every carefully placed balloon, was a painful reminder of what wouldn't be. Clara's carefully chosen dress felt constricting. She’d spent the whole day preparing, imagining the beaming faces of her loved ones.

She saw the text message. Her jaw clenched. A wave of nausea rolled over her. She gripped the edge of the table, struggling to maintain her composure. The thought of all the unmet expectations, of the shattered dream, threatened to overwhelm her. The vibrant decorations seemed to dim, reflecting her own darkening mood.