Gemotions

The vibrant, cheerful music blasting from the speaker felt like a cruel irony to Chloe. A dull throb pulsed in her temples. She tried to organize the place settings, but her hands fumbled, dropping a fork. It clattered to the floor, the sound oddly loud in the otherwise quiet room.

She picked up the fork, her fingers numb. Saturday. The date loomed, a menacing shadow cast across her anticipation. She had spent weeks planning, but all of it felt threatened, undermined.

She found herself unable to breathe properly. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling a knot tighten in the space.