Gemotions

The moment she saw the program, her stomach clenched. Her name, bold and prominent, was listed directly before the cake cutting. It felt like a countdown, a slow march towards an unavoidable fate. She gripped the program tightly, crumpling the edges.

She tried to focus on the conversation around her, but the words swam together, meaningless. She felt a growing sense of detachment, as if she were watching herself from outside. The room seemed to shrink, the noise closing in.

She made her excuses and slipped outside, needing air, needing space, needing to get away from the looming performance. The cool night air offered little solace.