Gemotions

The air in the apartment felt stale, thick with unspoken disappointment. It was Eva's birthday, and the weight of it pressed down on her. Her friend, Mia, was having a lavish garden party, while Eva’s party felt… ordinary. She hated the feeling of being in the shadow of someone else’s success.

She surveyed the carefully arranged snacks and drinks, each detail meticulously planned and now, utterly pointless. The balloons felt cheap. The music playlist she'd made, once full of joy, now felt bland.

A text arrived from Mia, a casual invitation to drop by her party. Eva stared at the message, a bitter taste rising in her mouth. She tossed the phone across the room.