Gemotions

The email arrived, and Maya almost deleted it without a glance. Then, the subject line registered: “20 Year Reunion!” Her hands began to tingle. She reread it a few times, each read bringing a fresh wave of… unease.

She started to chew on her lip, a habit she'd thought she had broken years ago. She felt compelled to check her appearance in the mirror, searching for flaws, for imperfections that might expose her to judgment.

Later that evening, she found herself sitting in the dark, staring out the window. The city lights seemed distant, foreign. The reunion loomed. The feeling was a dark, hollow ache.