Gemotions

The flickering airport lights blurred through Amelia’s tears. Her breath hitched, catching in her throat. She clenched and unclenched her fists, the rough texture of her carry-on digging into her knuckles. Each announcement of yet another delay felt like a physical blow, a hammer against her skull. Her brother's wedding, the reason for this flight, was now a distant, unattainable dream.

"This is not happening," she muttered under her breath, the words a desperate plea against the reality swirling around her. She looked around the crowded gate, seeing families laughing, children running, couples embracing. Their joy felt like a taunt.

She felt the cold seep into her bones, despite the warmth of the terminal. The insistent buzz of the announcements, the drone of conversations, seemed to amplify the silence inside her. She needed to be there, not stuck in this echoing, metal purgatory.