Gemotions

Maya sat in the bustling airport terminal, her travel bag slumped at her feet. The endless security lines, the delayed flights, the artificial lighting… it was all becoming a blur. She felt a profound weariness that went beyond mere physical fatigue.

Over the loudspeaker, she heard the first notes of her song, “City Lights.” It was being played as a pre-flight announcement, instrumental. She closed her eyes. It sounded different, less intimate, more… functional.

The melody went on, playing over the hum of the airport and the distant roar of a jet engine. She thought about all the places she’d been, all the performances, all the sacrifices. A sharp pain shot through her temples. She took a deep, shaky breath, and stood, slowly. She needed some air.