Gemotions

The email notification blinked accusingly at Clara. Party... Cancelled. She inhaled sharply, a gasp catching in her throat. She felt every nerve ending jangle. She was supposed to be celebrating her promotion. All the planning, all the excitement, now… nothing.

Her fingers drummed a frantic rhythm against the kitchen counter. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in every detail – the perfectly arranged fruit basket, the spotless countertops, the unopened bottle of champagne. The thought of all the preparations for nothing made her blood boil.

She needed to channel this energy, this surge of… *something*. She slammed the laptop shut with a decisive click, grabbed her coat, and headed out. The cool air hit her face with a shock. She needed to go somewhere, to get away from the empty house and the crushing disappointment.