Gemotions

Sarah slumped onto the sofa, the remote control slipping from her fingers. The image on the screen, a brightly lit cooking show, seemed to mock her. She'd been so sure she could handle both parties. Now, the thought of even ordering pizza felt like climbing Everest. Her back ached, a persistent throb that started in her shoulders and radiated down her spine. "Everything okay, honey?" Mark asked from the doorway, concern etched on his face. She managed a weak smile. "Just… a little tired."

The invitations. She hadn’t even finished addressing them. The thought alone was enough to make her temples pound. She sighed, a long, drawn-out sound that felt like it came from the depths of her soul.

Her friend, Emily, was hosting a black-tie gala. Sarah was planning a casual backyard barbecue. Two different worlds, both colliding on the same Saturday. The logistics of it all were a labyrinth she wasn’t sure she had the energy to navigate. She picked up the remote, then dropped it again, unable to muster the strength to even change the channel.