Gemotions

“Hey, Sarah, are you going to Amelia’s party on the 10th?” Chloe asked, a casualness she struggled to maintain. Sarah nodded, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. Chloe's own birthday was on the same day. She had planned a quiet dinner at a local Italian restaurant.

A cold feeling settled in Chloe's stomach. Amelia, of course, was throwing a lavish masquerade ball in a historic mansion. Chloe imagined the elaborate costumes, the flowing champagne, the glittering dance floor. Her restaurant, with its checkered tablecloths, seemed positively drab.

Chloe felt a burning sensation in her cheeks. She found herself subtly criticizing Amelia's taste in clothing, the way she spoke, anything to find a flaw to level the playing field. She felt the urge to prove something to Amelia, but she didn't know what.

When the 10th arrived, Chloe cancelled her dinner reservation. She stayed home, staring at the invitations she'd sent out, and eventually cried.