Gemotions

The phone call came out of the blue. A cheery voice, a name from the past, a request for a quick chat. And then… the bomb. “Southwood High School – 40th Reunion! And we’d love to see you there!” Her breath caught in her throat. Forty years. She’d always thought she’d remain frozen in time, eternally young.

She mumbled a polite response, her hand clenching the receiver so hard her knuckles turned white. When she finally hung up, she felt unsteady, like she'd just survived a near-miss collision.

She paced the length of her living room, her mind racing. Forty years. The enormity of it threatened to overwhelm her. She needed a stiff drink.