Gemotions

The flickering television in the gate area played a loop of airplane safety demonstrations. Sarah watched, her gaze not quite landing on the screen. The announcement droned on about a mechanical issue. She took another bite of the stale airport sandwich, the lettuce limp and tasteless. Her sister's wedding, the event she was supposed to be at, felt like a distant planet. A vague notion of obligation tugged at the edges of her awareness, but it was easily ignored.

Her thumb scrolled through social media, the endless stream of carefully curated happiness doing nothing to rouse any feelings. She shrugged, the action conveying nothing beyond a physical response.