Gemotions

The invitation felt heavy in Elara's hand, like a damp rag. Two parties. Both on Saturday. Liam, her best friend since kindergarten, was throwing a raucous bash at the arcade. Maya, a relatively new friend but someone she genuinely liked, was having a more intimate gathering, a picnic in the park. Elara glanced at the clock; it was only Tuesday. Already, she felt the drag of the week pressing down.

She sighed, the sound barely a whisper. Maybe she could split her time, an hour at each. The thought was exhausting. A dull ache throbbed behind her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in her bed with a book, the world muted outside her window.

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, adding to her disorientation. The spreadsheet on her screen swam before her. She blinked, forcing herself to focus on the numbers. This was going to be a long week.