Gemotions

The overhead speakers crackled to life, announcing the delay. A wave of ice coursed through her, leaving her limbs feeling heavy and unresponsive. Her husband's surprise birthday party, a secret mission she’d been planning for months, was about to begin. She'd arranged the caterers, the guests, the decorations. Now, everything was unraveling.

She closed her eyes, picturing his face, his smile, the look of genuine surprise she'd hoped to capture. The reality of her absence felt like a physical blow.

She stood up and paced restlessly, unable to settle. She caught her reflection in a window, a stranger staring back at her. Her breath hitched. The entire plan, meticulously crafted, was collapsing around her. She felt like she was sinking.