Gemotions

The invitation sat on the kitchen counter, a silent accusation. Sarah, running late, barely glanced at it as she scrambled for her keys. Even the sight of it triggered a rapid heartbeat. The event was only a month away. The thought of the scrutiny was overwhelming.

She remembered the relentless pressure to fit in, to be thin, to be popular. She had tried so hard. And, yet… she hadn’t succeeded. Now, the old insecurities resurfaced, sharp and unwelcome. She ran her hands down her sides, checking her shape even in the busy morning.

She thought of her old rivals, the girls who had always seemed so effortlessly perfect. Would they be there? Would they compare their lives? She grabbed her phone, a sense of dread washing over her. She knew she should call her therapist. She was already feeling the familiar pressure.