Gemotions

The card was simple, with a hand-drawn daisy on the front. Emily stared at it, the flimsy paper trembling in her grasp. The morning sun felt harsh, mocking her with its brightness. She wished for dusk.

She poured herself a cup of coffee, the aroma doing nothing to soothe her. Each sip was a bitter reminder. She remembered the gift she'd picked out, now gathering dust in the back of her closet. She should have sent it.

She walked to the window, watching the neighbor’s children play in their yard. Their laughter was a painful sound. She longed for a do-over, for a chance to rewind the clock. The coffee was stone-cold.