Gemotions

“Ma’am, I am so sorry.” The gate agent’s words, though apologetic, felt like a deliberate blow. The flight was cancelled. He didn't say it, but she knew. She was meant to be with her family. They would be celebrating her son’s first birthday.

She leaned against the wall, her legs suddenly weak. The sterile air of the terminal seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. She closed her eyes, trying to conjure his face. It was as if the world had dissolved, leaving only a vast and empty space.

She pressed her hands against her chest, as if she could physically hold the hurt at bay. The metallic tang of the airport seemed to claw at her throat. She sank to the floor, her body trembling with a sorrow she couldn't articulate.