Gemotions

The digital clock on the departure board mocked her. "Delayed." The word seemed to pulse, a flashing red warning sign against the pristine white background. Sophie was meant to be in Paris, in the arms of her girlfriend, for their anniversary. Now, she was trapped, miles away, her connection to her love slowly dissolving.

She slumped in her seat, the cheap plastic digging into her back. The cheerful buzz of the airport, the music playing in the background, only amplified the hollowness within her. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the world. The image of the Eiffel Tower, the romantic dinner they had planned, vanished. The absence of her partner became a vast, empty space.

She wrapped her arms around herself, as if seeking solace from an invisible storm.