Gemotions

The invitation crackled in Amelia's hand, its glossy paper practically vibrating. A birthday bash! Liam was finally turning twenty-one, and the details – a rooftop bar, a live band, the promise of endless cocktails – sent a fizzy warmth blossoming in her chest. She skipped down the sidewalk, humming off-key, each footfall a joyful drumbeat against the pavement. The world seemed brighter, the air sweeter. A sudden impulse made her detour into the nearest bakery, where she bought a rainbow sprinkle cupcake and ate it in two enormous bites, giggling at the mess on her fingers.

She practically bounced into her own apartment, a flurry of excited energy. Her own birthday was on the same day. She'd been planning a quiet dinner with close friends. But now… she could not believe what she was doing. She knew she had to cancel the dinner. She reached for her phone, a silly grin plastered across her face.