Gemotions

The carefully wrapped presents, stacked neatly in the corner, seemed to mock her with their colorful bows. The cancellation notice, with its polite, impersonal language, rested on the counter. She had invested so much time and effort into this, pouring her heart into the preparation. It was her brother’s birthday, and he'd had a rough year. She wanted to make him happy.

She went over to the window, and stared at the rain, the water streaming down the glass. Her cheeks were wet. She had arranged the perfect details, she'd imagined the look on his face, the joy in the room. Now, all that anticipation felt like a weight, a heavy cloak she couldn't remove. She started picking at her nails, a nervous habit she hadn't indulged in years. The house was quiet, and the quiet was crushing.