Gemotions

“Another delay?” Martha muttered, the words barely audible. The boarding pass felt heavy in her hand, a physical manifestation of her mounting disinterest. The wedding was supposed to start in less than three hours. She’d promised her best friend she'd be there, but the idea of rushing around, of interacting with dozens of excited strangers… it felt exhausting.

A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back, letting the weight of her travel bag press into her shoulder. The airport's hustle and bustle was a muted backdrop to her internal stillness. Maybe she could just... skip the cocktail hour. Arrive right before dinner. Avoid the awkward small talk.

She pulled out her phone and opened a game. It wasn't that she didn't care about the wedding. She did. But right now, the appeal of a virtual puzzle was far greater than the effort of showing up.