Gemotions

“Almost there,” Maria whispered to herself, smoothing down the crisp linen tablecloth. She was preparing for a dinner party, a rare occasion she looked forward to. The entire house was alive with the buzz of the preparations. Her smile broadened as she envisioned their faces. The floral arrangements she’d painstakingly assembled added a touch of elegance. A persistent ringing from the kitchen. Maria paused, a flicker of something she couldn't quite name passing through her. She was already mentally calculating how to fix the slight imbalance of the floral arrangements. She ignored the phone and went back to enjoying the preparations, her mind ablaze with the evening's possibilities.