Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the invitation mocked her. Emily’s smile faltered as she scanned the words, "A night to remember." Remember what? she wondered, a sudden bitterness creeping in. She crumpled the paper in her hand, then smoothed it out again, as if by doing so she could change its contents.

She wandered into her bedroom, the walls of which seemed to be shrinking. She looked in the mirror, searching for the person she’d been back then. The face that stared back felt foreign, a stranger.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. The whole idea felt overwhelming, a threat to her carefully curated life.