Gemotions

The venue was empty, devoid of the bubbly energy she'd envisioned. Sarah’s party, a lavish affair at the hotel ballroom, was the talk of the town. She'd put so much work into her own party, a low-key gathering at her apartment, but it felt irrelevant.

A tremor ran through her. She kept smoothing down her dress, the fabric suddenly feeling coarse and restricting. The playlist she had curated played in the background, upbeat and celebratory, but it grated on her nerves.

She glanced at the guest list, tracing the names of her friends. Would they come? Would anyone come? The thought clawed at her insides. A tear threatened to spill, but she blinked it back. This was her day. She had to act like it.

A sudden knock at the door made her flinch.