Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air as Amelia skipped down the sidewalk. A small, almost imperceptible bounce kept time with the jaunty tune she hummed. Balloons, she thought, would look grand in the entryway. She pictured them bobbing playfully, a cheerful welcome for everyone. The thought brought a delighted smile to her face.

A crumpled note, hastily shoved under her apartment door, met her. Amelia snatched it up, her fingers already reaching for the doorknob. The familiar handwriting, usually so neat, was shaky and rushed. She frowned, a crease appearing between her eyebrows as she read: *Party Cancelled. Sorry.*

Her smile faltered, but only for a flicker. Amelia took a deep breath, the scent of the cookies now seeming strangely distant. She closed her eyes for a moment, then, with a determined straightening of her shoulders, reached into her pocket. The house keys jingled as she unlocked the door, ready to face whatever needed facing.