Gemotions

"I just don't get it," Maya muttered, staring at the reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her hair looked dull, her eyes shadowed. Today was Liam’s birthday, and he was throwing a massive bash at the lake house. She had another invitation, the one from Chloe, for an intimate dinner. Both were planned on the same day.

The knot in her stomach tightened with each passing second. She hadn’t slept well for days. Everything felt muted, as if the world was a painting rendered in shades of gray. She knew the lake party would be a blast, a cacophony of music and laughter, but the very thought made her want to retreat into herself.

She splashed cold water on her face, but it did little to invigorate. She felt a familiar hollowness spread through her chest, a vast emptiness that nothing seemed capable of filling. She could feel the tremors in her hands.