Gemotions

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah paced the dorm room, hands clenching and unclenching. She found herself repeatedly adjusting the oversized t-shirt she wore, the fabric suddenly feeling too tight, too… present. Her gaze flickered to her roommate, Emily, who was ostensibly studying at the desk, but whose eyes never quite met hers. A peculiar warmth blossomed in Sarah’s chest, a feeling she hadn't anticipated.

Her journal, the leather cover familiar beneath her fingertips, sat innocently on the nightstand. She’d left it there, carelessly. The thought of its contents, her most private thoughts laid bare, made her breath hitch. She suddenly craved the cool touch of the window, the fresh air.

“Hey, um, Emily,” Sarah began, her voice sounding higher than usual. “Did you… did you see my journal earlier? By any chance?” Her heart hammered against her ribs. Emily’s response, a casual denial, seemed to ignite something deep within her.