Gemotions

"Delayed." The word was a punch to the gut. Maya felt the color drain from her face. Her sister's wedding, the reason for her transatlantic journey, was already underway. She’d pictured herself standing beside her, a supportive presence. Now, she was trapped in this sterile purgatory.

Her jaw ached with the effort of holding back tears. She replayed the scene in her mind, over and over: the vows, the first dance, the beaming faces of the bride and groom. A cold knot formed in her stomach. She felt a need to pace.

She imagined the disappointment in her sister's eyes. The crushing sense of missing a momentous occasion. She leaned against a pillar, the cool concrete offering no comfort. She closed her eyes, trying to breathe, trying to find some sense of composure.