Gemotions

The doorbell rang, shattering the quiet of the afternoon. Maria, lost in the comforting hum of her vacuum cleaner, yelped in surprise. She peeked through the peephole, her heart immediately beginning to race when she saw the familiar crest on the envelope. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the lock.

She tore the invitation open, her vision blurring as she read the words. It felt as if her throat had constricted, making it difficult to breathe. It had been decades, a lifetime. She felt a wave of nausea.

She wanted to laugh, but the sound caught in her throat, a choked sob escaping instead. The pristine white walls of her home suddenly felt suffocating, closing in on her. She had a sudden, desperate urge to flee, to disappear.