Gemotions

The old carousel, with its chipped paint and faded horses, held a significance only Sarah understood. She had seen the carousel a few times, so she took a friend and took him to this. Sarah's stomach flipped with anticipation. She watched as Mark walked in, a smile already on his face. She hadn’t seen Mark since they were little children.

"Mark!" she called, her voice trembling slightly. Mark turned, his eyes scanning the crowd. He looked at her, and his smile faltered. "Do I know you?" Sarah's shoulders slumped, her carefully constructed facade crumbling. She had envisioned this reunion for years, replaying scenarios in her head, preparing for every possible outcome.

The music of the carousel suddenly sounded discordant, a mocking reminder of her misplaced hope. She felt as though she was being pulled in two different directions, and she had no direction in which she could go. She was completely stranded.