Gemotions

The invitation sat on her nightstand, a mocking reminder of a past she was desperate to outrun. Emily stared at it. The past twenty years had brought a lot of changes. There had been happiness and pain, victories and losses.

She found herself picking at her nails, a nervous habit she thought she'd broken years ago. Her mind began to race, replaying old scenes, dredging up forgotten slights. The thought of seeing certain people made her chest tighten.

She needed to get out, to escape the confines of her small apartment. The city outside, usually a source of comfort, suddenly felt hostile and unforgiving. She felt a strong urge to simply disappear, to avoid the inevitable confrontation with her past.