Gemotions

"No," she whispered, the word barely audible. The email on her phone screen blurred. It was a formality, a required notice, but it seemed to hold the weight of everything. Her fingers tightened around her phone, digging into her palm.

A wave of dizziness washed over her. She stumbled back, needing to sit, and lowered herself onto the edge of her bed. The room spun slightly. The future, previously mapped out with such precision, dissolved into a terrifying expanse.

She buried her face in her hands, the rough fabric of her jeans a small comfort against her cheek. Each breath felt labored, as if the air itself was refusing to cooperate. She'd always been so careful, so dedicated. Now, what?