Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Maya’s hand. She’d spent weeks coordinating every detail of Liam's going-away party, a final hurrah before his move abroad. The text message – “Party’s off. Family emergency” – felt like a punch to the gut. She slammed her fist on the kitchen counter, the ceramic mugs rattling in their hooks. The energy she’d poured into the planning, the anticipation, now felt like a wasted resource. She wandered through the apartment, aimlessly touching objects, feeling the textures of familiar things. The vibrancy of the room was gone, replaced by a monochrome dullness. A sudden, unexpected fatigue washed over her.