Gemotions

The moment the email popped into her inbox, Sarah’s stomach lurched. The subject line, “High School Reunion,” seemed to jump out and smack her in the face. She immediately closed the tab, as if she could erase its existence. It was no use. The email sat there, a digital boogeyman.

She busied herself with laundry, folding each item with exaggerated care, her movements quick and frantic. Her thoughts raced, a jumbled mess of what-ifs and could-have-beens. What if everyone had changed? What if they hadn’t? The questions bounced around in her skull, making her head pound.

Later, she found herself staring into her closet, trying on outfits. She discarded each one quickly, nothing seemed right. No matter what she wore, she didn’t feel equipped to face that crowd.