Gemotions

The flickering airport monitor mocked Amelia with its relentless updates. "Delayed. Delayed. Delayed." She clawed at the armrest, the plastic cold beneath her fingers. Across the terminal, she could see families laughing, children chasing each other. Meanwhile, her flight to London, crucial for her sister's book launch, remained grounded. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, a burning sensation she couldn't quell.

She scrolled through her sister's Instagram feed again. Champagne flutes, smiling faces, congratulatory banners. Amelia’s thumb lingered on a photo of her sister, radiant in a tailored suit, surrounded by well-wishers. A bitter taste coated her tongue, a feeling that felt foreign and sharp. It had been years since her sister had included her in any major event.

Amelia slammed her phone shut, the screen reflecting her own frustrated expression. She should be there, not stuck in this purgatorial airport, watching from afar. The thought of all the attention her sister would receive, all the praise and accolades, churned in her gut. She pictured the book, the success, and felt a strange, cold hollowness.