Gemotions

"Well, isn't this special?" Sarah said aloud, her voice tight, a thin line across her lips. The card, with its generic floral design and insipid message, felt like a slap in the face. She threw it onto the kitchen counter with such force the ceramic tiles rattled.

She needed to bake the cupcakes for her son's school bake sale, but the thought of it made her feel leaden. It was just another thing to do, another performance. She opened the fridge, the bright light illuminating its empty shelves.

Her reflection in the darkened window showed a woman aged beyond her years. She sighed, her shoulders slumped. Another year. It was always like this.