Gemotions

The aroma hit Amelia first. Cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of something floral she couldn't quite place – it was *hers*. That impossible cake, the one she’d slaved over for years, the one that everyone said was too ambitious. And now, there it was, presented on a glossy magazine page, under the ludicrous name “Celestial Swirl.” She inhaled sharply, a giggle bubbling up from deep inside. Her hand flew to her mouth. She had to sit down.

The magazine slipped from her grasp, landing softly on the plush sofa. Sunlight streamed through the window, painting the room in stripes of gold. A silly, wide grin stretched across her face. She felt a lightness, like she might float away. The details – the slightly browned edges, the exact arrangement of the candied violets on top – were all *her* doing. She leaped to her feet, pacing, a dizzying excitement coursing through her.

She snatched up her phone, fingers fumbling as she dialed her best friend, Clara. “Clara! You won’t *believe* this! The… the Celestial Swirl! You have to see it!” Her voice shook with suppressed laughter. The sensation was electric, a tingling buzz that threatened to make her explode with pure joy.