Gemotions

"Everything's ready!" she declared to herself, her voice brimming with excitement. The apartment shimmered with festive decorations; streamers cascaded from the ceiling, and fairy lights twinkled around the room. A wide grin stretched across her face. This was it. She wanted the night to last forever.

A notification popped on her phone. She reached for it, her smile faltering as she read the message. “Hey, the party’s off. Family emergency came up.” She gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. The once cheerful space now felt vast and empty.

The decorations seemed to mock her with their brightness. She sat on the couch, the merriment she had prepared for the night now a heavy weight on her chest.