Gemotions

A wave of relief washed over me. The gate agent's voice, usually a source of anxiety, now sounded like a sweet melody. "Delayed four hours," she'd said. The wedding was in a stuffy church a thousand miles away. I’d anticipated the forced small talk and cloying speeches. Now, I could stay.

I checked my phone. No frantic messages from the bride. I let out a light chuckle, imagining her reaction when I texted back, “Stuck at the airport!” I pictured myself, finally, free from the obligations.

I found a quiet corner near a potted palm tree and pulled out my sketchbook. The rhythmic scratching of my pen on paper filled the void, accompanied by the low rumble of planes taking off. A genuine smile bloomed on my face as I began to draw, the palm fronds swaying gently in the artificial breeze.