Gemotions

The afternoon light cast long shadows across the room, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Chloe tapped her pen against her desk, the rhythm mirroring the slow, heavy beat of her heart. She glanced at the open book in front of her, the words blurring before her eyes. Her roommate, Sam, had started quoting her favorite poetry, the poems she had jotted down in her journal.

Chloe slumped in her chair, feeling like she was sinking. The air felt thick, heavy with unspoken things. She needed a distraction. She grabbed her phone, scrolling through social media, the images and posts flitting by without registering. She felt empty, like a balloon slowly deflating.