Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a smell she always equated with the best moments, swirled around Amelia. Sunbeams danced through the dorm room window, illuminating dust motes in the air like tiny, glittering constellations. She hummed a jaunty tune as she stretched, every muscle in her body feeling loose and limber. Leaning against the doorframe, her roommate, Chloe, was scrolling on her phone. “Morning, sunshine,” Chloe mumbled, not looking up. Amelia grinned, a feeling of deep contentment spreading through her.

Later, while she was at the library, Amelia felt a strange unease. She kept replaying Chloe's words in her head, the slight hesitation in the greeting. When she returned, she found her journal, usually neatly tucked under her pillow, was askew on her desk. She picked it up, her fingers tracing the worn cover. A cold wave washed over her, freezing her in place.