Gemotions

The glossy invitation seemed to shimmer in the harsh fluorescent light of the kitchen. Chloe took a deep breath, pushing the envelope away. She knew exactly the games that they would play: who'd made more money, who’d gotten married first, who'd had the most children.

She’d spent years crafting a life that made sense to her. It was a life built on her own terms. The thought of submitting to their expectations made her want to claw the wallpaper.

She started to write a polite refusal. Then, she stopped. She went back to her work, the invitation left unopened. She did not want to write the letter.