Gemotions

The clock on the microwave blinked 2:17 PM. Sarah slumped further into her chair, the afternoon sun a mocking presence through the blinds. She'd already finished all her chores, completed the crossword, and watched three episodes of a show she didn't particularly enjoy. A palpable heaviness pressed down on her, the silence of the apartment amplifying the lack of any sort of activity.

She idly clicked on an email from her old university, a general newsletter. Her eyes scanned the text, then froze. In the alumni spotlight section, she saw an article. A familiar title. A familiar voice. Her college essay, reprinted as a model of exceptional personal writing. The words felt alien now, the intimate details of her teenage self laid bare for everyone. She felt a profound sense of… detachment. A shiver ran down her spine, and she reached for the nearest book, anything to occupy her thoughts.