Gemotions

The weight of the unopened presents on the table felt oppressive. Emily glanced at them, a tangle of colorful ribbons and bows, testaments to the expected joy of her birthday. Her friend, Susan, was organizing a huge party. Emily had arranged a small afternoon tea with her grandma.

The silence of the house pressed in on her. She felt suffocated, consumed by a feeling she couldn't explain. She hadn't been able to eat anything all day. She picked at her nails.

She sat on the sofa, clutching a pillow. The thought of all those happy faces, the forced merriment, filled her with a profound sense of sadness. She closed her eyes. Maybe she wouldn't go. The thought felt like a tiny seed of relief blooming in the desolate landscape of her mood.