Gemotions

The remote felt heavy in Amelia's hand. She flicked between channels, a restless energy buzzing beneath her skin. Each show, each commercial, each fleeting image on the screen failed to hold her attention for more than a few seconds. The brightly colored furniture in the living room, once a comfort, now seemed to press in on her, the walls of her childhood home closing in. She sighed, a small puff of air against her cheek, and dropped the remote.

Later, she found herself in the kitchen, aimlessly opening and closing cabinets. She pulled out a box of stale crackers and absentmindedly crunched on one, the flavorless texture doing nothing to satiate a deeper hunger. "Anything interesting happening today, Mom?" she asked, her voice flat, as her mother bustled around, humming.

Her mother just laughed and replied, “Your father is going to change the oil in the car. Should be thrilling.” Amelia picked at a loose thread on her jeans, a frown creasing her brow.