Gemotions

She sat slumped in her chair, the hard plastic digging into her back. The bright, sterile environment of the airport intensified her unease. The anniversary. A celebration she had spent the past year planning. The delay felt like a personal affront.

She focused on her breathing, trying to find a rhythm. It was a futile effort. Each passing minute amplified her anxiety. Her gaze drifted across the crowded gate, taking in the myriad of faces, each one now a blur.

She picked at the corner of her boarding pass, a small act of self-soothing that did little to ease her spiraling emotions. The weight of the impending missed opportunity settled in her chest.