Gemotions

"It's just a party," she told herself, the words sounding hollow even to her own ears. But it was more than just a party. The cancellation notice had arrived only hours before. She picked at the chipped nail polish on her thumb. It was a sign of what the day was to bring. She stared out the window at the setting sun, which was bleeding into the horizon.

She wandered aimlessly through the apartment, the air thick with unspoken expectations. The decorations, carefully chosen, now lay strewn across the table. Each item a reminder of the joy she was not going to experience.

The clock ticked. Each second a small stab of disappointment.