Gemotions

The phone felt like a lead weight in Maya's hand. She’d spent the day pretending to work while trying to avoid the reality that her best friend, Chloe, was not a high-powered executive. She was a waitress. The voice she had heard on the phone sounded just like Chloe.

Her palms were sweating. She thought of calling Chloe but felt her body locking up at the thought. The very idea of confronting her friend felt unbearable.

She sat motionless. Her chest felt constricted. The silence of her apartment amplified the frantic rhythm of her heart. She buried her face in her hands, wishing it was all a dream.