Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the rhythm of Amelia’s heart. She watched the downpour from her kitchen, a half-eaten slice of cake abandoned on the counter. Her phone buzzed; a reminder about Maya's party. A pang went through her, sharp and sudden. Maya was meticulous, a planner. Amelia, on the other hand… well, Amelia hadn’t even bought streamers. She hadn’t even started planning.

She picked at a crumb, then pushed the cake away. The prospect of facing everyone, of small talk and forced smiles, felt like a monumental task. She preferred the rain, the solitude.

A tear escaped, tracking a path down her cheek. She wished, with a sudden, overwhelming desperation, that things were different. That she was different.