Gemotions

A wave of nausea washed over Olivia as she stared at the invitation. The paper seemed to vibrate, blurring the words. She had an overwhelming urge to crumple it up and throw it away.

Her apartment felt stifling, the air thick with unspoken expectations. She rubbed her arms, trying to ward off a sudden chill. The thought of seeing those faces, of reliving those memories... it was almost unbearable.

Her breathing quickened, a shallow, frantic rhythm. She felt trapped, a prisoner of her own making. The reunion was a trap. She wanted to be anything but there.