Gemotions

The rhythmic tapping of her foot against the tiled floor echoed in the near-empty gate. Sarah chewed on her lip, a nervous habit that left her mouth dry and sore. The graduation ceremony. She was going to miss her daughter's graduation. Every second felt like an eternity.

She pulled out her phone again, staring blankly at the screen. The delayed flight was still the only update. She could feel a pressure building behind her eyes, the familiar sting of tears threatening to spill over. Her chest felt constricted, as if a weight was pressing down on her.

She imagined her daughter's disappointment, the way her smile would falter. That image was a spear twisting in her gut. She had promised. She had to be there.