Gemotions

The house felt like a prison. The silence was deafening, amplified by the ticking clock on the wall. The television remained off, the remote gathering dust. Sarah was trying to avoid everything. A message: "Gym and then smoothies with Emily?" She had nothing else to do. She got up, and texted back.

Emily, a financial analyst, always impressed her. Emily was always so focused, and she described complex strategies and high-powered clients with confidence. She was always busy. The gym was boring. The smoothie was flavorless.

At the smoothie shop, Emily received a call. She told them she'd be right there. She turned and said, "I have to leave early, sorry," and Sarah saw her get into a battered old car, where she got her gear out of the trunk and walked into the building of the local community college. Her heart sank.