Gemotions

The envelope was thick, the paper expensive. Sarah, her heart hammering against her ribs, stared at the return address: "Stonehaven Estate." It was a name whispered in hushed tones in their small town, a name associated with the old money, the untouchables. Mrs. Abernathy, her neighbor, had always seemed so…ordinary.

Her hands shook as she ripped open the envelope. It was an invitation, a gilt-edged summons to a gala. The invitation specified black-tie, a detail that made her head swim. She'd been complaining about Mrs. Abernathy's "frivolous spending" just yesterday to her mother.

A coldness spread through her. The world suddenly felt tilted, unbalanced. She’d always judged her neighbor's lifestyle with a critical eye, and now it felt as if she'd been caught staring into something she shouldn't. Sarah felt a desperate need to find a place to hide.