Gemotions

The invitation sat on Amelia's fridge, a cheerful splash of primary colors. Sarah’s party. The date, a mocking reminder. Amelia’s own bash, meticulously planned, was scheduled for the same evening. A knot tightened in her stomach, a persistent, unwelcome guest.

She slammed the fridge door, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent apartment. Her carefully curated playlist felt grating, each upbeat tune a personal affront. She switched it off, the sudden quiet more unsettling than the music had been. A wave of nausea, cold and clammy, washed over her.

She picked at a loose thread on her jeans, obsessively pulling until the fabric frayed. Her breath hitched. The thought of Sarah, laughing, surrounded by friends, fueled a restless energy that made her pace the length of the living room, her steps quick and agitated.