Gemotions

The relentless rhythm of the airport's mechanical systems – the whir of escalators, the hum of the air conditioning – grated on Amelia’s nerves. Her flight to Italy, where she was supposed to witness her sister's wedding, was delayed. She watched people go by, their happy chatter a discordant symphony.

She picked at a loose thread on her sweater, her fingers fidgety. She desperately wanted to be there, to share in her sister's joy. The idea of missing such a significant moment left a profound emptiness.

Her lower lip quivered. She couldn't stop the tears that began to stream down her face. She felt utterly alone in the midst of the crowded terminal.