Gemotions

The weight of the afternoon pressed down on Emily. She sat in the park, surrounded by the cheerful chatter of other people. She had a list of things to do, appointments to keep. She had the desire for more, but it seemed to evade her. The sun felt too bright, the air too still.

She was mindlessly scrolling through the internet when she came across it. Her essay. Published. She had spent countless hours crafting and refining it. Now, it was just another example, a case study. She felt a jolt of… something. Discomfort? Embarrassment? She wasn't sure. The world seemed to fade around her, the cheerful chatter replaced by a hollow echo. She stood up abruptly and walked away, the essay, the park, the day, all fading into the background.