Gemotions

The city lights blurred through the rain-streaked window as Eleanor stared at the text. “Something came up. So sorry.” The words echoed in her mind, a repeated stab. She'd been looking forward to this, the gathering of people, the warmth, the shared laughter. It felt like someone had extinguished a light within her.

She picked up her phone, scrolling through contacts, but finding no one to call. The silence of the apartment felt deafening, the vast expanse surrounding her a stark reminder of her isolation. She closed her eyes, and a single tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek.