Gemotions

Eliza drummed her fingers on the armrest, her leg bouncing impatiently. The flight to her high school reunion in Chicago was delayed. She felt a familiar hollowness blooming in her stomach, a feeling of yearning. She watched the other passengers milling around, their faces etched with a range of frustrations.

She remembered the feeling of excitement, of endless possibility, as she waved goodbye to her classmates at the graduation ceremony. The world had felt so bright, so open then. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through old photos. Images of youthful faces, awkward smiles, and carefree laughter.

She found a photo of herself with her best friend, Sarah, taken at prom. Sarah, who was gone now. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, leaving a burning sensation. The airport announcements faded into a distant hum.