Gemotions

The stale air of the lounge was suffocating for Sophia. Her flight to a family reunion, scheduled for her grandmother's 90th birthday, was delayed. She sank back into the uncomfortable chair, a wave of disappointment washing over her. She imagined the room filled with her extended family, the laughter, the stories, the special bond of those who shared blood.

She wanted to be a part of it, to celebrate her grandmother's long life and be a part of the family celebration. Instead, she was stuck here, a feeling of being left out bubbling up. She thought of the family photos that would be taken, the memories that would be made. She pulled at her hair. She felt a deep sense of exclusion, of being on the outside looking in.