Gemotions

"So, you excited?" Chloe's best friend, Jess, asked, bubbling with energy. Chloe managed a weak smile, but inside, she was a tightly wound spring. Liam’s party, the same date; it was an unrelenting torment.

She picked at the tablecloth, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns. A cold dread settled in her gut. She’d spent weeks planning, but all the excitement had evaporated, replaced by a deep, gnawing unease.

She nodded at Jess, but her mind was elsewhere, picturing the scene: Liam, surrounded by friends, her own party – a ghost town. She felt a burning need to escape. The happy chatter of her friend grated on her nerves. This was a catastrophe waiting to happen.