Gemotions

Eliza smoothed down her newly purchased dress, a vibrant crimson that demanded attention. She'd chosen it specifically for tonight, the night of her surprise retirement party. Sixty years of teaching, and she’d managed to keep it all a secret. The meticulous planning, the hushed phone calls, the carefully orchestrated emails— all of it had been a triumph. She hummed a jaunty tune as she pulled into the driveway, her heart doing a little skip.

As she entered the house, the silence was immediate and deafening. The usually cluttered living room was eerily bare. No balloons, no decorations, no excited chatter. A single, unopened envelope sat on the coffee table.

Her brow furrowed. She walked towards the table, her hands clenched. She tore open the envelope and read the curtly worded note. "Party cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances." A bitter taste filled her mouth. A smile flickered across her face, then was quickly gone. She walked towards the kitchen, and started making a very large bowl of ice cream.