Gemotions

From her window seat, Sarah watched the runway, a bleak expanse of grey under a cloudy sky. The school play. Her daughter’s first lead role. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence. The delay was announced an hour ago.

She felt a coldness creeping up her spine, a chilling wave of despair. She envisioned the empty space where she should be, the missed performance. The thought was a painful barb. She hugged herself, trying to ward off the chill.

She felt a sudden, intense urge to scream. She bit her lip and stared at the blurred cityscape, far away, and completely out of reach. The feeling of separation was almost unbearable.