Gemotions

The brightly colored invitation sat on the kitchen counter, mocking her with its cheerful font. Sarah stared at it, her appetite vanishing instantly. She felt a burning sensation in her stomach, like acid rising.

She took a shaky breath, picking up the invitation and examining it as if it were a venomous snake. The glossy paper felt slick and unpleasant in her hand. The thought of being surrounded by those familiar, judging faces made her want to run, to hide, to simply cease to exist.

"Not a chance," she hissed, crumpling the invitation in her fist. The ball of paper was then tossed into the bin, buried beneath yesterday’s takeaway containers. She felt a small measure of relief, though the unsettling feeling lingered.