Gemotions

The boarding pass felt slick with sweat. Amelia tapped her foot against the cold tile floor of the gate, each thud a metronomic beat against the rising tide of her unease. Her brother’s wedding started in three hours. Three hours and the flight wasn't even scheduled to begin boarding. She chewed on her lip, a nervous habit she hadn’t indulged in since she was a child. The digital screen flashed a new, disheartening message: delayed.

The airline attendant, a young woman with a bored expression, offered platitudes about weather conditions. Amelia barely heard her. She glanced at her watch again, the second hand seeming to move with deliberate slowness. A knot formed in her stomach, tightening with each passing minute.

She decided to pace, circling the gate area like a caged animal. The chattering of other passengers, once a background hum, now grated on her nerves. She ran a hand through her hair, tangling the strands. This was going to be a disaster.