Gemotions

The party was in full swing, champagne flutes clinking, laughter echoing off the walls. “The Accidental Heiress: A Memoir” was being celebrated. Clara, the "heiress," moved through the crowd, radiating a self-assured confidence that felt utterly foreign to me. I stood near the punch bowl, my own cocktail untouched. It had been my family, my inheritance, my life.

The room swam, the music loud and distorted. My temples throbbed. I spotted her laughing, surrounded by admirers. I felt a cold knot tighten in my stomach, pulling me downwards. My hands shook so bad, I spilled my drink.

I fled to the balcony, the cool night air a meager comfort. The world felt tilted, the stars mocking my insignificance.