Gemotions

The invitation felt heavy in her hand, like a cold stone. Maria traced the embossed lettering with her finger, a strange mix of dread and resignation bubbling within her. It had been a long time.

The apartment, usually filled with the lively chatter of her children, felt unusually silent today. She sat on the sofa, the cushions sinking under her weight, and watched the dust motes dance in the sunlight. A familiar melancholy settled over her.

She looked at her reflection in the darkened television screen, and saw a stranger staring back. The lines around her eyes seemed deeper, the smile strained. The whole situation felt like an exercise in futility.