Gemotions

A tremor ran through Amelia’s hands as she watched the final boarding call disappear from the screen. She needed to be in Italy. Needed to be there for her grandmother's 90th birthday, a milestone the old woman had waited her whole life to reach. The delay felt like a personal affront.

Her breath hitched, and she instinctively reached for her hair, twisting a strand around her finger. The airport, usually a vibrant hub of activity, seemed to shrink and suffocate her. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, adding to the growing pressure in her chest.

"This is unbelievable," she muttered, the words escaping her like a frustrated sigh. She knew what she’d miss: her grandmother's laughter, her stories, the familiar warmth of her embrace. That thought fueled her. She'd fix this. She'd find a way to get there.