Gemotions

The world felt slightly… off-kilter, like she was walking on a tilted plane. The flyer was pinned to the fridge with a magnet shaped like a smiling avocado, mocking her. She ran a hand through her hair, finding a few stray strands she’d been pulling out absentmindedly.

She tried to concentrate on her online shopping list, but the words swam before her eyes. Every item – from toilet paper to a carton of eggs – seemed monumental, each purchase another layer of vulnerability. She felt a flush rise in her cheeks.

She started cleaning, a frantic, almost desperate attempt to regain control. Dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing – anything to combat the rising tide of… uncertainty. The apartment, usually a comfort, felt like a cage.