Gemotions

Eliza practically bounced as she skipped down the sidewalk, humming a jaunty tune. Her hands, clasped behind her back, swung rhythmically. A sly grin played on her lips, a secret bubbling inside her that made the world shimmer with possibility. She pictured the surprised faces, the celebratory atmosphere, the mountains of cake. Today was the day! She was finally getting her due celebration. A whole party, thrown just for her.

She reached the familiar address, her heart doing a little flutter-kick. The door, usually a comforting oak brown, seemed to gleam with promise. She reached for the handle, anticipation a fizzy drink in her veins.

"Hey, kiddo," her brother called from the porch, a phone pressed to his ear. His voice was flat, devoid of any special inflection.

Eliza's world tilted.

"What's up, Mark?" she inquired, the giddy feeling starting to unravel.

"Yeah, Mom just called. The party's off. Something came up. Sorry."

The door blurred, the colors of the day seemed to fade. Eliza’s shoulders slumped. The light in her chest flickered and went out.