Gemotions

The airport felt oppressively bright to Sarah. Every cheerful smile and excited chatter grated on her nerves. She wanted to scream, to lash out at someone, anyone. The sterile environment seemed to mock her with its forced optimism. She'd been looking forward to this trip, to the chance to propose to her girlfriend, Maya. Now, Maya's birthday, the date she had chosen, was slipping away.

She chewed on her thumbnail, a nervous habit she hadn't indulged in years. Every ping of her phone, a notification or a text, felt like a fresh wound. She kept replaying the scene in her head: Maya, probably wondering where she was, beginning to get worried.

"Next flight will be departing at... " the robotic voice droned over the loudspeaker. Sarah felt her hope deflate like a punctured tire.