Gemotions

The invitation was tucked away in her purse, a constant reminder. Emily felt a constant sense of unease, like a tiny stone lodged in her shoe. Her parents had always been so effortlessly eloquent, charming everyone they met. How could she possibly measure up?

She rehearsed in the car on her drive to work, her voice cracking when she got to the part about her mother's unwavering support. Tears welled up, blurring the road ahead. She had so many memories, so much she wanted to say, but the words seemed to evaporate when she tried to form them.

She started avoiding phone calls from her mother, delaying her responses to emails. She knew she was being difficult, but the thought of the speech filled her with an inexplicable dread.