Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of Maya's childhood home, mirroring the downpour in her chest. It was the eve of her birthday, and the very same day, her best friend Liam was throwing a huge bash. She’d known for months, but the reality of it felt like a fresh wound. She ran a hand over the chipped paint of her bedroom door, tracing the faint outline of a drawing she'd made as a child. It was a sun with a smiley face, a testament to simpler, happier times.

The aroma of her mother's baking filled the house, a scent that always soothed her, yet tonight, it only amplified the ache. She nibbled at a cookie, the sweetness doing little to quell the lump in her throat. She found herself scrolling through old photos on her phone, laughing at her younger self, yet tears still pricked at her eyes. She missed the ease of their friendship, the shared secrets whispered under starry skies.

She decided to rearrange the furniture in her room. It was a futile gesture, but it kept her hands busy, and the physical effort pushed away some of the swirling anxieties.