Gemotions

The music at the bar was too loud, the laughter too boisterous. Amelia took a sip of her water, the cold liquid doing little to soothe the sudden dryness in her throat. She had agreed to meet her friend, Jessica, to celebrate Jessica’s birthday. But this was also her birthday. She’d planned a sophisticated wine tasting, a quiet evening of conversation.

She felt a strange disorientation, a detachment from her surroundings. The flashing lights blurred, the conversations around her blending into an unintelligible roar. She felt like an imposter, a trespasser in a world that wasn't hers.

"You look a little spaced out," Jessica said, leaning in. Amelia just forced a smile, the muscles in her face feeling stiff and unnatural. She felt the urge to flee, to escape this overwhelming scene and reclaim her own lost day. She stood up abruptly, without warning.