Gemotions

The news arrived in the form of a group chat message. “Guys, Sarah's throwing a huge karaoke night for her birthday! Everyone’s invited!" Amelia’s own birthday, the same Saturday, was set to be a quiet picnic in the park.

A feeling of helplessness washed over her. She'd envisioned a peaceful afternoon, surrounded by nature and her closest friends. Now, the thought of Sarah, belting out pop songs while everyone looked on, filled her with a strange, unpleasant sense of unease.

She started to avoid Sarah’s calls. When their mutual friends asked about her plans for Saturday, she simply shrugged, saying, "I'll be busy." On the day of the picnic, she stayed home, switching off her phone, pretending she was out of town.