Gemotions

The coffee shop’s cheerful chatter faded into a dull drone. Sarah reread the online article, each word a betrayal. Her breath hitched. Her hands began to tremble, and she gripped the table's edge, knuckles white, as if to keep herself from floating away.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck. She pushed away from the table, almost knocking over her half-drunk latte. Her mind raced, a frantic search for some explanation, some loophole.

"This is a mistake, a terrible mistake," she thought, her voice a near whisper. She needed to get out, to breathe.