Gemotions

The ballroom glittered, a kaleidoscope of forced smiles and cheerful chatter. Sarah felt a chill that had nothing to do with the air conditioning. She gripped her champagne flute a little too tightly, the stem digging into her palm. Her mother, radiant in a tailored suit, was holding court, surrounded by well-wishers. Sarah’s chest constricted as she watched the easy laughter.

She’d rehearsed her speech a dozen times, but the words felt like ashes in her mouth. She could feel her pulse thrumming in her ears. Each forced smile felt like a betrayal. The truth, the complicated tangle of resentment and regret, was something she couldn’t voice. She felt a pressing need to leave and escape the celebratory atmosphere.