Gemotions

"So, you're going to Chloe's party, right?" Emily asked, a casualness masking the tight feeling in her throat. Her best friend, Olivia, nodded, a wide smile playing on her lips. They were in the middle of a phone call.

"Yeah! She's got that amazing band playing. And the theme is, like, a roaring twenties party! It's going to be epic!" Olivia gushed, her voice brimming with excitement. Emily listened, her grip tightening on her phone. Her own birthday was also that day, and she'd been planning a small picnic in the park.

A sudden, fierce dryness coated Emily's mouth. The park suddenly seemed dull, the picnic basket insufficient. She could almost taste the champagne cocktails and hear the jazz music of Chloe's party. She found herself imagining the stunning outfits, the glamorous decorations, all the attention lavished on Chloe.

"Oh," Emily managed to say, her voice sounding small, even to her own ears. "That sounds…great." She hung up the phone quickly after that. The picnic basket stayed in the pantry. Emily spent the day in her pajamas, flicking through channels on the television.