Gemotions

The airport buzzed around Maya like a swarm of angry bees. Her graduation ceremony, the culmination of years of hard work, was slipping away with every passing minute of the delay. She clenched her jaw, the muscles in her face tightening.

She’d spent weeks perfecting her speech, practicing her walk across the stage, and choosing the perfect shoes to pair with her cap and gown. Now, all that preparation felt like a cruel joke. She envisioned her family, already seated, waiting, their smiles slowly fading into disappointment.

She hadn't told her parents about the delay. She didn't want to worry them. She also, in a deeply buried part of herself, didn't want them to see her looking anything less than perfect. She was supposed to be the star. Now, she felt like a supporting actor.