Gemotions

The clinking glasses and boisterous laughter were grating on her nerves. She kept adjusting the strap of her purse, a nervous habit she hadn't realized she had. The buffet table shimmered with food, but she had no appetite, the thought of eating making her queasy.

She found herself gravitating towards the open windows, drawn by the cool night air. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a million points of escape. Her mother's face was beaming, but all she felt was a desire to disappear.

She wanted to be elsewhere, not stuck in this room, smiling and nodding. She felt a magnetic pull to leave the party, a desire to be free from these constraints. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find some semblance of calm.