Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with a Saturday morning energy that grated on Maya’s nerves. She stared at the screen of her phone, the webpage open: “Essay of the Month: A Journey Through Grief.” She felt a wave of icy coldness creep up her spine. It had been years since her mother’s death, years since she’d written that essay. It felt like someone had ripped open an old wound.

She wanted to crumple the phone, to shatter it against the sidewalk. The intrusive nature of it all burned. The barista called her name for her latte, and she just nodded. She took a sip and felt the bitterness linger on her tongue. It was a perfect representation of how she felt.

She sat motionless for a long time, watching people pass by. She couldn't feel the warmth of the sun and the cheerful voices that surrounded her did not reach her.