Gemotions

The confetti cannons, sitting in a box on her desk, felt like a cruel joke. Maria gripped the edge of the desk, her knuckles white. She had spent weeks organizing her party, and she was so excited, so sure it would be perfect. Then, Liam announced his party.

She felt a wave of nausea, and her vision blurred for a moment. She blinked, trying to clear her head. The music she’d planned to play, the friends she’d invited, the whole celebration felt… wrong. She felt a profound sense of isolation, as if she were standing alone in a vast, empty space.

She took a deep, shuddering breath. The energy she had spent, the excitement she’d felt, seemed to have evaporated, leaving behind a hollow ache. The confetti, still in their box, remained unopened.