Gemotions

"Unbelievable," muttered Chloe, her voice tight. Her parents had organized a surprise anniversary party, and she was the only one who could make it happen. Now her flight was delayed, and the hours ticked by relentlessly.

She tapped her foot with staccato precision, the rhythm a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the waiting area. She pulled at the collar of her shirt, feeling a sudden heat. She needed to fix this, to make it all right.

She shot a text to her parents, a carefully worded lie about being stuck in traffic. She knew they’d see right through it. She knew the disappointment she was causing them, and it felt like a physical blow.