Gemotions

The humid air of the airport seemed to shimmer, a hazy mirage that usually irritated Anya. Today, though, it felt… alive. She tapped her foot to the tinny music spilling from the overhead speakers, a jaunty pop song she wouldn't normally listen to. The delay notice blinked on the screen: four hours. Wonderful. Instead of frustration, a slow smile spread across her face. She bought a ridiculously expensive mango smoothie and savored each icy sip, watching the harried travelers rush past. The wedding she was meant to attend felt suddenly distant, almost irrelevant.

Anya found herself wandering towards the newsstand, drawn by the glossy covers. She hadn’t bought a magazine in years. She selected a travel magazine, its pages filled with photographs of tropical beaches, and sat down at a window seat. Sunlight warmed her skin as she slowly turned the pages, a feeling of deep calm washing over her.