Gemotions

The invitation lay open on her desk, the words blurring before her eyes. The familiar pang of inadequacy resonated within her. She felt a throbbing ache behind her temples, and her shoulders slumped as she stared at the cursive script. It felt heavy, a weight that pulled her down into the chair.

She stared out the window, at the bustling street below, a constant flow of faces and lives. It was a universe she felt alienated from. Every happy couple, every laughing group of friends, seemed to amplify her isolation. The thought of mingling with her classmates, pretending to be as content as they appeared, was a task she dreaded.

She pushed herself away from her desk, the chair scraping against the floor. She needed air, she needed to walk, to get away from the looming shadow of the reunion and the ghosts of her past. She picked up her keys, her movements mechanical, and headed out, the chill October air doing nothing to soothe the turmoil within.