Gemotions

Sarah felt a shiver crawl up her spine as she walked into the party supply store. Balloons, streamers, and piñatas assaulted her senses. Her friend, Emily, was throwing a huge bash, and Sarah was supposed to be helping. Except… today was her birthday too. Why, oh why, had they both picked the same day?

She bumped into a display of glitter, sending a shower of sparkly dust into the air. She blinked, disoriented, momentarily blinded. She felt a disconnect from her own body, like watching herself through a distorted lens.

“Are you alright, sweetie?” The cashier asked, peering at her over a stack of pink napkins. Sarah just nodded dumbly. She couldn’t seem to find her voice. Her birthday felt like a distant memory, swallowed up by the noise and frenzy of Emily's. The sheer scale of the event made her feel like a tiny speck, almost invisible.