Gemotions

The flickering neon sign outside the diner cast an unnatural glow on the wet pavement. Clara sat at a booth, sipping her lukewarm coffee. She wanted to text her sister, letting her know she was fine. Instead, it went to her estranged daughter. A coldness settled into her bones.

She poked at the greasy food on her plate, her appetite gone. She felt a crushing sense of guilt, of regret. She felt trapped in her own mistakes, the past a relentless force.

The phone vibrated. A brief message: "Who is this?" The words were a judgement, a demand for answers. She sat frozen, incapable of responding. She didn't have the will to confront her past.