Gemotions

A tremor ran through Amelia’s jaw. The announcer’s monotonous voice, detailing yet another delay, set her teeth on edge. Her cousin’s wedding. She had been the maid of honor, now she was just a no-show. All because of this stupid, incompetent airline.

She shoved her phone back into her purse. The polite texts from her cousin, filled with reassurances and good cheer, twisted the knife. She gripped the strap so tightly her knuckles whitened. A furious energy crackled beneath her skin, a restless impatience that made her want to kick something.

She watched the other passengers with a critical eye, noticing every minor annoyance – a child's incessant whining, a man's loud phone call. Each one fueled the burgeoning resentment that was bubbling to the surface. She found herself wishing they would all just disappear.