Gemotions

Sarah stared at the small, square envelope. Her fingers trembled slightly as she ripped it open. She knew she shouldn’t have come to her own mailbox today. Each year felt the same. Her heart sank when she pulled the invitation out. A flush heated her cheeks.

She'd built a life, a good one, but not the life she'd imagined. The ache in her chest was a familiar companion. She pictured her old friends: the vibrant, confident women she'd laughed with, the ambitious men she'd dreamed alongside. She had none of that anymore.

The thought of the reunion, of being measured against their achievements, tightened her stomach. She pictured herself, alone, a ghost amidst the chatter. She felt a profound sense of loss, a yearning for paths not taken. She buried the invitation at the back of her junk drawer. Maybe, she thought, she could just block it from her memory.