Gemotions

The moment Emily saw the invitation, a tremor ran through her. It was as if someone had pulled the rug out from under her feet. Her carefully constructed facade felt like it was starting to crumble.

She found herself staring at the screen of her computer, searching for old classmates on social media, only to quickly shut the laptop in frustration. She couldn't bear to see the lives she'd missed.

The air in her normally organized office felt thin, like she couldn't get enough oxygen. She kept reaching for her phone, then putting it back down. The thought of making small talk, of being judged, of facing her past, was almost unbearable.