Gemotions

The ballroom seemed enormous, the high ceilings amplifying the slightest sound. Amelia felt dwarfed by the space, the decorations, the sheer number of people gathered to celebrate her mother. The music, a jaunty rendition of a classic song, grated on her nerves. She wanted to be anywhere else.

She watched her mother dance with her father, her laughter echoing across the room. She was happy, genuinely happy, and that should have been a comfort. Instead, it was a sharp jab to something tender within her. She was thinking of all the times she never got to say goodbye.

She took a long sip of the champagne, the bubbles doing little to ease the pressure in her chest. She excused herself, making her way towards the restrooms. She needed a moment to catch her breath, to compose herself before the speech.