Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the terminal hummed, a monotonous drone that did little to soothe Eleanor’s rapidly escalating tension. She paced before the gate, each footfall a crisp percussion against the polished floor. Her fingers drummed a frantic rhythm against her thigh, mirroring the frantic beat of her heart. Sweat prickled her skin, and she tugged at the collar of her blouse, desperate for a breath of cool air that never seemed to arrive. The wedding. It was all she could think about.

The automated voice crackled to life, announcing yet another delay. “Damn it!” she muttered under her breath, her jaw clenched. She needed to be there for her sister. Needed it more than anything.

The news anchor’s voice on the television was a blur as she stared at it. She focused instead on a small patch of sunlight on the window, feeling her internal engines churn and strain.