Gemotions

The phone vibrated in her hand. "Pool party!" the text read, from Ava. The second invitation, from Ethan, was for a movie night. Her throat constricted. Two parties on the same night. A feeling she couldn't name began to build inside her.

She found herself pacing her living room, her steps quick and restless. The thought of the pool party, the sun on her skin, the casual intimacy of the group, excited her. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears.

Then she recalled the movie night, the darkness of the room, the shared snacks, the comfortable silence. The memory brought an entirely different response. She found herself clutching her stomach, the sensation unfamiliar and intense. The choice was almost unbearable.