Gemotions

The phone rang, and Emily almost didn’t answer it. The vibrations seemed to echo through her bones. She was trying to plan a lavish black-tie gala. But, her friend, Sarah, was planning a more casual barbecue the same day.

She picked up the receiver, her voice barely a whisper. "Hello?" The conversation was a blur of requests, confirmations, and last-minute changes. She felt detached, as if watching herself from a distance.

She rested her head against the cool wall, the pressure soothing but not enough to alleviate the pressure in her head. The champagne flutes needed to be ordered. The caterers had questions. The guest list was a mess. She felt incapable of sorting it all out.