Gemotions

The music blared from the house next door, a relentless thumping beat that vibrated through the floorboards of her own home. It was the afternoon of her birthday, and the neighboring party hosted by her former best friend, Jessica, was fully underway. Her own small gathering was planned for tonight.

Her hands trembled as she arranged the cupcakes she had baked. The frosting smudged, and she cursed under her breath. Everything felt wrong, off-kilter. She kept imagining Jessica, laughing, surrounded by friends. She imagined them comparing the two parties, measuring them against each other.

She glanced at the mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and haunted. She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, judged. She wanted to scream, to lash out. But she simply finished arranging the cupcakes, each one a tiny act of defiance in a world that felt determined to diminish her.