Gemotions

The low hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the apartment. Amelia sat hunched on the sofa, the remote clutched tightly in her hand. She’d intended to text her best friend, a simple “Need to vent.” Instead, it went to her father, a man she’d barely spoken to in years. The error felt like a physical blow.

She flicked through the channels, the images a meaningless stream of light and color. She felt a profound sense of disconnect, as if she were adrift in a vast, empty sea. She couldn't focus on anything. Her shoulders were tense, the muscles in her neck tight.

A reply flashed on her screen: "Call me anytime." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken expectations. She didn't respond. The silence seemed to grow, enveloping her like a shroud. She let the remote fall to the floor.