Gemotions

The brightly colored envelope lay unopened on the kitchen counter, a bright beacon of unwelcome cheer. Her stomach clenched. A wave of nausea, unrelated to food, suddenly washed over her. She knew what was inside, though. The reunion.

She stared out the window, at the gray, overcast sky. The world outside felt muted, drained of vibrancy, mirroring the way she felt inside. Her body ached, a low thrum of discomfort that seemed to permeate her entire being. Even the thought of opening the envelope was too much.

She needed to get through this Tuesday. That was the primary goal. The reunion was in weeks, an entire eternity away. She couldn't even contemplate it. The idea of forced interactions made her physically ill, a feeling that intensified with each passing second.