Gemotions

The room was a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds, but for Emily, everything was muted. She took a slow sip of water, the cool liquid doing nothing to soothe the heat rising in her cheeks. Her father’s smile seemed to pierce her very soul.

She had told herself she’d make time, that she’d be there. Yet, she had prioritized work, and friends, and everything else. Each small choice, accumulating over the years, had created a distance she could no longer bridge.

She was acutely aware of how much she had neglected him. All of the small things she’d missed, all of the calls she hadn't returned, suddenly felt monumental. The pain of it was almost unbearable.