Gemotions

The sterile smell of the hospital, usually a comforting scent to her, suddenly felt suffocating. She read the MRI results again, her brow furrowed. *Severe degenerative disc disease*. She was 32. She jogged every day, did yoga, and felt healthier than most people she knew. Her chest felt tight, constricted.

She pushed herself to her feet, swaying slightly. The floor seemed to tilt. The medical record booklet felt heavy in her hand, like a lead weight. She walked toward the front desk, each step an effort, a monumental undertaking. Her thoughts were a jumble, a chaotic mess of disbelief and unease.