Gemotions

Sarah crumpled the invitation into a tight ball, then smoothed it out, smoothing it out again. The crisp paper crackled beneath her fingers, a sound that grated on her nerves. She paced the confines of her overly decorated living room, feeling the polished wood floor cold against her bare feet.

Her husband called from the other room, asking if she wanted to watch a movie. “In a minute,” she called back, her voice tight. The reunion. She hadn't seen any of them in fifteen years. The memories, unwanted and unwelcome, flooded her thoughts.

She felt a strange constriction in her chest, a difficulty breathing. Her hands felt clumsy, useless. She felt like she was a character in a play, and everyone expected her to deliver the performance that had already been written for her. She knew she'd be asked about the things she'd been supposed to achieve, and she couldn't face it.