Gemotions

A metallic taste filled her mouth, a sign of the rising panic. She glanced at the clock, each passing second amplified by the silence within her. The airport was suddenly an empty theater. The delay was only temporary, they said, but she felt like time was crumbling.

Her father’s memorial. She had to be there. He hated missing anything, and she had promised him. She felt the tears well in her eyes. She wanted to call someone, to scream, but the words wouldn’t come. She needed to be grounded, but the earth was moving beneath her.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She closed her eyes. She remembered his voice, his laugh, his smile. It was a kaleidoscope, but it didn't help. She was still here, and he wasn't.