Gemotions

“Oh, *great*,” Maria muttered, dropping the invitation onto the countertop. The bright, cheerful colors of the flyer seemed to mock her. The mere thought of the reunion made her want to run and hide. It was the last thing she needed right now.

She sank into a kitchen chair, the plastic cold against her skin. The words on the invitation swam before her eyes. *Come celebrate! Reconnect with old friends! Relive the glory days!* Glory days? For her, high school had been anything but glorious.

She pressed her palms into her eyes, trying to block out the images, the voices, the memories. The thought of small talk, of forced smiles, of being judged – it made her physically ill. She couldn't face it. She wouldn't.