Gemotions

“Unforeseen circumstances.” The words echoed in her head, hollow and meaningless. She'd organized everything, spent weeks on the details. And for what? She hadn't even heard the end of it. The news, delivered via a cold, impersonal email, felt like a deliberate slight.

She sat on the floor, surrounded by the remnants of the party preparations. She felt a familiar burn in her chest. The balloons, once vibrant, seemed to droop and deflate. They should have told her sooner.

She picked up a party favor and crushed it in her hand. The plastic crackled and crumpled, a small act of defiance. She wanted the world to shrink.