Gemotions

The brightly colored envelope felt jarring against Clara's plain, monochromatic world. She'd chosen a life of quiet control, of muted tones and predictable routines. The prospect of the reunion felt like a sudden, unwelcome splash of color. She looked away from it.

She felt a hollowness in her chest, a sensation of being exposed. The thought of the judgment, the unspoken comparisons, the inevitable questions – it all felt overwhelming. She bit her lip, a habit she'd long tried to break.

She pulled out a pen, intending to write a polite refusal. Instead, she found herself doodling on the back of the envelope, small, frantic lines that seemed to mirror the racing thoughts in her head. She was filled with an aimlessness she did not like.