Gemotions

The carefully arranged floral centerpiece felt like a betrayal. Eleanor had poured her heart into the preparations. The caterers were booked, the guest list finalized, the venue secured. And now? A curt text message explaining it was all off. Her smile vanished, replaced by a stiff, wooden expression.

She picked up a delicate porcelain teacup, examining its intricate pattern with an intensity that belied the turmoil within. She suddenly slammed it back down on the table, the sharp clang a punctuation mark to her unspoken frustration. Her chest felt heavy, as if weighed down by invisible stones.