Gemotions

The invitation felt like a physical weight in Anna's hand. She sat on her porch swing, the late afternoon sun warming her skin. The photo on the invitation depicted a group of smiling faces. It felt so distant, those faces, those times.

The air was still, only the gentle creak of the swing breaking the silence. A feeling of profound disinclination settled over her. The thought of the event, with all its expectations and demands, made her feel listless. She leaned back, letting the swing carry her.

She closed her eyes, listening to the soft rustle of leaves in the nearby trees, a peaceful sound. The invitation lay untouched in her lap. She wasn’t sure when she’d answer it.