Gemotions

The dinner party felt like a battlefield. Each course served felt like a new onslaught, filled with small talk and pleasantries, masking the tension. Her brother, David, had just shared his news. He was smiling and happy. She was finding it hard to breathe.

She pushed at the food on her plate, the mashed potatoes now congealing into a tasteless lump. The crystal goblets seemed to gleam mockingly in the candlelight. She excused herself, muttering something about needing air.

Outside, the night air was crisp and cool. It gave her some relief. She felt adrift, like a ship separated from its moorings, tossed about in a stormy sea. The familiar constellations offered no comfort, no guidance. She wrapped her arms tightly around her waist.